A WEAPON-wielding homeless man who sparked a police manhunt has been jailed.

A number of armed officers descended on Goodland Gardens, in Taunton, and Victoria Park after members of the public reported seeing a man in possession of a gun.

Bobby Nigel Cox, 21, who was living at Lindley House, East Reach, at the time of the incident on September 3, assaulted a member of the public before he was arrested.

Cox, who had been in custody since the incident, pleaded guilty at Taunton Magistrates' Courts to possessing an unloaded air weapon in Goodland Garden and assault by beating.

He was jailed for 12 weeks (concurrent) on the first count and received 16 weeks on the other charge.

He was also ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge and £150 criminal courts charge.