A man has been fined after he decided, in a “moment of stupidity”, to shoot his air rifle into his hedge to get rid of his last pellet, narrowly missing a father and his son.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard Alan Massey’s actions left the youngster “inconsolable, crying and shaking”.
Depute fiscal Linzi Souter told the court the pair had been playing football in their back garden when they heard a loud noise that sounded like a “gunshot”.
They then saw what looked like some form of projectile pass by them at high speed, around a foot away from them.
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Ms Souter said the father “looked up, and saw the accused standing in his own garden” before knocking on his front door to challenge him.
The 61-year-old admitted owning the air weapon, but said he had a license for it.
Ms Souter added: “The police were contacted and officers attended. They noted the child was inconsolable, crying and shaking.”
Massey pled guilty yesterday to a charge of firing his air rifle in a reckless manner on July 8 last year.
Defence solicitor Graham Morrison said his client, who lives in Portlethen, typically used the air rifle to shoot rabbits and didn’t want to put his gun away while it was loaded.
He told the court: “He recklessly shot it into the hedge, so it would be empty and he could put the gun away safely.
“He is a mature and sensible man and this was a moment of stupidity on his part.”
Sheriff Gary Aitken fined Massey £200 and ordered him to forfeit his weapon and its ammunition.
