‘Socially awkward’ Chinese student Yihe Xiong jailed after pulling fake gun on students at Exeter University

A student who triggered an armed police response when he brandished a fake gun on a university campus has been jailed for eight months.

Yihe Xiong, 25, took the realistic-looking imitation Beretta pistol into a University of Exeter building where he was due to give a presentation.

He told students he had 12 bullets and claimed that if the presentation went badly he would open fire.

Part of the Streatham campus, the university’s largest site in Exeter, was evacuated and armed police were deployed.

Xiong, who was studying a master’s degree in computer studies, admitted possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

He told Exeter crown court that it was a prank or joke.