Man in underpants with ‘gun’ bursts into pensioners’ dwelling – Let them name 999

Maurice Dodd was armed with a fake gun and a knife when he burst into the Liverpool home of an elderly couple and demanded to know where ‘they’ were, before a quick-thinking pensioner feigned a heart attack to end the terrifying ordeal

A man with a fake gun gave an elderly couple a fright after he burst into their home only wearing underpants as he made demands. The events later unfolded with him allowing them to phone 999.

The quick-thinking pensioner pretended to suffer a heart attack to end the frightening nightmare he and his wife endured after the man stormed into their bungalow brandishing a fake gun and threatening: “Where are they? If you don’t tell me, I’ll shoot you.”

Cocaine-fuelled Maurice Dodd was also spotted pointing the replica weapon at passing motorists near a health centre while dressed only in his underwear. He has now vowed to stay off drugs completely.

Liverpool Crown Court was told today (October 12) that Merseyside Police received multiple 999 calls from witnesses “describing a young man in his underwear pointing a handgun” at people close to Mere Lane Neighbourhood Health Centre in Everton during the evening of July 7 2025.

Armed police rushed to the location, with Dodd, from Westminster Road in Kirkdale, also captured on CCTV “pointing the imitation gun at passing cars”.

Eric Lamb, prosecuting, explained how the 33-year-old then went to the residence of Michael and Linda Duffy, then aged 89 and 67 respectively, on nearby Calder Road and said: “The couple heard a bang at the back door and rustling in the kitchen. Then, their living room door burst open with the defendant appearing with the imitation pistol in his hand and a knife in his right hand.”

Having grabbed the blade from the Duffys’ kitchen, Dodd proceeded to threaten: “Where are they? If you don’t tell me, I’ll shoot you. Don’t move or I’ll shoot you.”, reports the Liverpool Echo.

The couple were reportedly left “not surprisingly, terrified” by the ordeal, but they “had the presence of mind” to try and soothe Dodd as he “looked in and out of rooms of the property, as if looking for somebody”.

The incident is believed to have lasted between 30 to 40 minutes in total, during which Mr Duffy, who has since passed away at the age of 90, tried to divert the armed intruder by claiming he needed the loo before “slumping against the wall and feigning a heart attack”.

Dodd permitted his victims to dial 999, but refused to let them answer the door when paramedics arrived. He eventually exited through the back of the house, wiping clean the door handles and instructing the Duffys: “Don’t tell them where I am.”

Dodd, who has 11 previous convictions for 19 offences, was later spotted in a neighbouring garden brandishing two pairs of scissors, asking the resident “if he could come in, or if they would give him a knife”. Saliva samples taken after his arrest tested positive for cocaine.

Daniel Travers, defending, told the court: “He fully acknowledges that his behaviour that day had a significant impact on Mr and Mrs Duffy, who in no way deserved to be frightened in their home by his actions. Through me, he wants the court to appreciate that he understands it. He is remorseful and apologetic for it.

“This is his first custodial sentence. He has had some difficulties, including difficulties, in the past, relating to drug abuse. He is, to an extent, relieved that, although he has spent now well over a year, more like 15 months, in custody, at least he feels that he understands what has caused his behaviour.

“His family are present. His father, in particular, has stressed that this has been an ongoing problem. They have taken him to the GP on several occasions. He was referred to the mental health team, but never received the treatment that he is now receiving in custody.

“Although there have been episodes of blackouts in custody, having now had an increased dose of his anti-psychotic medication, he seems stable. He has a tendency to develop psychotic symptoms, albeit in the context of substance misuse.

“It is a point that Mr Dodd recognises, and his desire is to maintain the medication he is on and not use drugs again. At least now, Maurice Dodd knows what is wrong with him and knows what he has to do. I invite the court to consider that this young man, now he knows what is wrong with him, will be able to look after himself properly in future.”

Dodd pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, two counts of making threats to kill and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

Appearing via video link from HMP Liverpool wearing a grey Berghaus tracksuit top, he was sentenced to five years behind bars and given a seven-year restraining order.

During sentencing, Judge Dennis Watson KC said: “On the evening of the 7th of July last year, you were roaming the area near the health centre just south of Stanley Park in Everton. You were dressed in shorts or underwear, and you had a handgun.

“At times, you are seen to raise the gun and point it at passing traffic. You were behaving erratically, and, whenever you raised the gun, it was extremely alarming. You were seen, it seems, by a number of people who reported you, which resulted in firearms officers coming to try to locate you and arrest you.

“You had also gone into a private garden at some stage. Without knowing Michael and Linda Duffy, you went into their home. He was 89. You threatened both of them with not only the gun but a knife that you had picked up from the house.

“I have no doubt that it was utterly terrifying. They tried to reason with you, in spite of their panic and fear, but you were not for listening, because you were under the influence of drugs, demanding to know where somebody was and holding this pistol, which, for all the world, Michael and Linda Duffy thought was real. Of course, the knife was real.

“By a very clever and quick thinking ploy, Michael Duffy feigned a heart attack. You just about felt enough sympathy to allow an ambulance to be called, although you did not let the ambulance in until you left, wiping down the door with a tea towel.

“Although your paranoia was seemingly about somebody looking for you or you looking for them, you had the presence of mind to try and obscure your forensic traces as you left. You have, it seems, accepted, finally, that there is an issue.”