The outside of the Cucci Coo designer children's clothes shop in the Brunel Centre, SwindonTHE manager of a children's clothes shop in Swindon is due to appear in court on a gun charge.

Samual Ackah, 26, of Lanhydrock Close will appear before Swindon Crown Court on Friday charged with trespassing in a property in Swindon, using a handgun in a threatening way and stealing ten baseball caps.

The alleged incident is said to have happened on Sunday, January 2 and is believed to be over a dispute about money.

Ackah, who runs Cucci Coo in the Brunel Centre, was arrested two days later and was found in possession of 0.4 grammes of cannabis resin, with a street value of £5.

He admitted the possession charge but, on Thursday, Swindon Magistrates' Court heard that it was for medical reasons for an injury Ackah suffered some years ago on his right leg.

His girlfriend, who is six-months pregnant with their second child and is running the shop until the 26-year-old, who was remanded in custody, is released, said the experience had been hell for her family.

"We are just normal people and this is an awful situation to be in," she said.

"I'm pregnant and I'm in and out of hospital suffering high blood pressure and this is making things worse.

"The whole family is devastated."

The mother-of-two, who did not wish to be named, said her six feet four-inch tall, 15 stone boyfriend, who is originally from London, would only take cannabis occasionally and never at home or work.

She claimed it helped ease the pain of a leg injury he sustained after a motorbike accident five years ago.

"He was arrested for the alleged gun incident and not for the drugs which were found in his possession afterwards," she said.

"It was a very small amount."

The 28-year-old, whose children are aged eight and 15 months, is worried bad publicity could affect business at the clothes shop which sells designer brands like Versace, Prada and Moschino and only opened six months ago.

"This could potentially put us out of business," she said.

"He is a gentle giant and loving father who gives a wonderful service."

Ackah was fined £50 and ordered to pay £35 costs for the cannabis possession, but was told that as he had already served two days in custody these would be waived.

For the other charges he was committed to crown court.

Although an application for bail was made it was refused because of the potential for interference with witnesses.

Ben Payne