A 37-year-old man who fired a shotgun into the home of a work colleague after finding out he was seeing his ex-girlfriend has been jailed for four years and five months.

Sentencing Jason Anderson, Judge Martyn Levett said that when the shotgun was fired into the darkened living room there was a risk the victim could have been sitting on the sofa.

At an earlier hearing Anderson of Riverside, Brandon, admitted possessing a shotgun with intent to cause fear of violence and unlawful wounding in June.

In addition to being jailed, Anderson was banned from contacting the victim.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that a pellet from the gun fired by Anderson struck the victim, who was in his living room in High Street, Brandon, on the leg causing an injury.

East Anglian Daily Times: Anderson was jailed for four years and five monthsAnderson was jailed for four years and five months (Image: Suffolk police)

Prior to the shooting, which happened on December 12 last year, the victim and Anderson, who were work colleagues, had spent the evening drinking together at the victim's home before Anderson left the property after an argument.

Anderson had later returned with a loaded shotgun and had “stupidly” fired it into the living room, which was in darkness, through a patio door intending to frighten Mr Smith, said Matthew McNiff for Anderson.

He said Anderson accepted firing the gun into the dark room was reckless.

“He didn’t intend to cause really serious harm and there was no intention to murder,” said Mr McNiff. 

He said Anderson had acted in a "moment of madness" after finding out that the victim was seeing his ex-girlfriend.

The court heard that since the incident guns found at Anderson’s home had been seized and his firearms’ certificate had been revoked.

Anderson was due to have been sentenced on Monday but Judge Levett adjourned the hearing until Friday due to his barrister being unwell.