Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site
We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.
You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.
This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.
The response of call takers and armed officers has been praised as a man who pointed a handgun at a member of the public and fired blanks at police was jailed.
Hari Mann wore a fake police uniform as he carried out the offences in Braunstone Town on the morning of Tuesday 4 June last year.
But the quick, calm and skilled policing response led to him being safely detained and arrested and no members of the public being hurt.
Mann, 25, had driven a Mercedes Sprinter van into a pub car park shortly before 9.30am where he began to empty its contents. After being confronted by a member of the public, Mann then pointed a handgun at him. This led to police being called and armed officers were deployed.
Mann, moments before he was arrested
On arrival at an area off The Glade, the firearms officers were confronted by Mann who fired shots at them. One of the armed officers immediately recognised that an imitation weapon was being used and that blanks were being fired. This meant he was quickly able to diffuse the situation. A Taser was deployed and despite Mann trying to run away, he was swiftly detained, taken to the ground and arrested. While in custody, Mann also assaulted a nurse.
Due to concerns regarding the contents of the van, a cordon was put in place and several nearby properties were evacuated as a precaution.
As part of the ongoing investigation, officers also searched an address in Lancaster Place that was linked to Mann and found another firearm, a police-style uniform and handcuffs. Some of the uniform was found to have been bought from an online auction site.
Items owned by Mann
Two cars – a Ford Mustang and Ford C-Max – that were also linked to Mann were located and found to contain sirens and blue light equipment.
Mann, of Lancaster Place, Leicester, was subsequently charged. On 9 October 2024, at Leicester Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to:
On Friday (31 January) he was sentenced to a total of three years’ imprisonment.
Hari Mann
Detective Inspector Hazel Sandall said: “This was an incident that resulted in a fast-paced policing response and had a significant impact on the local community.
“The first report to our control room was made at 9.57am and Mann was arrested at 10.15am. Thanks to the quick reactions of our call handlers and firearms officers, he was detained before he was able to cause physical harm to anyone.
“It is enormous credit to officers and staff involved in this response that they were able to bring the incident to a swift and safe conclusion.
“The items uncovered by officers as the investigation progressed were deeply concerning. While his weapon contained blank rounds, the fact he was still prepared to pull the trigger at armed officers makes me truly believe he wanted to cause fear of serious harm to the public and police.
“This is not something which we will tolerate and, as our officers and staff showed, we will take immediate action to ensure our communities remain protected and safe.”