Paintball 'joker' sent to prison (From Barry And District News)

Paintball 'joker' sent to prison

A BARRY practical joker has been jailed for driving around in a sports car taking pot shots with a paintball gun.

Dion Hunter, 23, fired at pedestrians and bus passengers - leaving his victims terrified as the pellets flew past them.

Hunter, of Holmes Street, was jailed for 12 months when he appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday June 16, because of his "witless tomfoolery" in firing the gun three times in Barry town centre on Wednesday, January 7.

Prosecutor Alex Greenwood told how Hunter was a passenger in a friend's sports car when he fired at the bus.

He said: "The bus driver heard a whistling sound pass his head then saw his front windscreen had been hit.

"He described the incident as shocking and immediately contacted police." Hunter's next victim was former soldier David Prosser as he walked along a street with his girlfriend.

Mr Greenwood said: "He had served in the Army and recognised the sound of a gun being fired.

"He ducked down and pulled his girlfriend to the ground alongside him in reaction to the sound as a result of his military training.

"He saw a blue car pull away at high speed with the passenger pointing something at him. "Mr Prosser told police he feared for his life and for that of his girlfriend."

The third victim was a cyclist who said he saw a Ford Probe pull alongside him before Hunter wound down the window and fired a shot.

Cardiff Crown Court heard police stopped the car and arrested Hunter then searched his home and found photographs of him posing with the pistol.

He admitted three charges of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

But the court heard he meant the actions as a "practical joke" and did not aim to hit his victims.

Meirion Davies, defending, said: "Nobody was going to be injured as a result of this witless piece of tomfoolery."

Hunter was jailed for 12 months.

Judge Robert Britton told him: "The sound of a gun being fired is enough to put fear into anyone.

"Your actions caused distress to all those involved."