Jailed: Man, 27, shot three people with air rife from his flat

The court was told that one man received potentially life-threatening injuries and needed emergency surgery.

Defendant David Keith Cornell, 27, was jailed for five years after he admitted wounding with intent and two charges of attempted wounding with intent, together with a charge of possessing the Turkish made .22 air rifle with telescopic sights with intent to cause fear of violence.

Cornell, of Pentrerhedyn, Machynlleth, was warned if he had been convicted after trial then he would have received a seven-and-a-half year sentence.

Judge Niclas Parry told Mold Crown Court that his behaviour on December 31 last year "beggared belief" and said that it could have resulted in death.

One of the victim's injuries was potentially life-threatening when the lead pellet made its way between the ribs towards the lung.

"If the lung had been penetrated then he could have died," Judge Parry told him.

The other two were shot but not as seriously hurt.

Prosecutor Emmalyne Downing told how Ryan Briwant-Evans was out celebrating New Year and as he was making his way past the clock tower felt a sharp pain to his side, to the ribs.

He did not know what it was and when he got to a pub he realised he was bleeding. The victim initially thought he had been shot with a BB gun and as he returned to the scene saw that the defendant's flat window was open and that it was the only one which had a light on.

He spoke to Mark Evans and Phil Roberts about what had happened and as Mark Evans rang the police he was also shot to the lower back. Mr Roberts also felt a sharp pain to the body.

The defendant was seen in the window and after an exchange he came downstairs and there was a scuffle.

The defendant had not appreciated how serious one of the injuries had become.

At the time he had been binge drinking.