Student Jailed for Fake Gun Rampage at Crawley College
Sandijs Dreimanis has been locked up for over five years after sparking a massive police scare at Crawley College last April.
Armed with Imitation Gun and Knife
On 26 April 2022 at 3.12pm, police flooded the campus following reports of a man firing a gun. Witnesses saw students flee and gunshots rang out. The suspect, 18-year-old Dreimanis from Crawley, was detained minutes later after a brave lecturer and support staff member chased him down.
They risked their lives as Dreimanis turned and fired a weapon at them. Luckily, it was a blank-firing imitation pistol, which Dreimanis had recently swapped for an airsoft gun and painted black to look more real. He also had a knife on him.
Heroic Staff Awarded for Bravery
These two Crawley College employees disarmed Dreimanis before police arrived to make the arrest. Both received High Sheriff’s Awards and were praised by Judge Laing QC for their “extraordinary degree of bravery which was most remarkable.”
Harsh Sentence After Guilty Plea
Dreimanis pleaded guilty to:
- Possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
- Possession of a knife on school premises
- Two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm
He was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Friday 11 March to five years and six months in jail, including time served.
Police Praise Quick Response and Calm Community
“The swift action of police and the bravery of staff ensured no one was seriously hurt,” said Chief Inspector Shane Baker. “Over 80 officers were deployed to manage the situation, evacuate the college, and keep everyone safe. Thankfully, this was not terror-related and such incidents remain extremely rare in Sussex.”
Crawley College Principal Vicki Illingworth added: “We are grateful to the emergency services and proud of our staff and students’ courage. Though it was a distressing incident, our community has come through it stronger.”
