A drug addict has admitted shooting and attacking his former girlfriend in her Kidlington home.

Gareth Edwards shot Kirsty Price, 25, in the head with an air pistol, beat her up and attacked two people, Nicholas Lambert and Emma Bailey, as they went to her aid.

Oxford Crown Court heard yesterday (January 23) that Edwards, 26, of Banbury Road, Woodstock, was being treated for drug addiction when he forced his way into Miss Price's home in Kidlington, where she lived with her three children.

The court heard Miss Price had previously been in a relationship with Edwards and had two children with him.

She suffered shot wounds to the head and had to undergo surgery to have pellets removed after the incident on November 5 last year.

The court heard that she was still undergoing treatment at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital after suffering repeated headaches.

Edwards told the court that he had twice previously been admitted to Oxford's Warneford Hospital for mental health assessments.

A psychiatrist had told him he had "problems coping and mood swings". He had been particularly badly affected by the recent suicides of two of his brothers.

But he said that his behaviour when he attacked Miss Price was "bizarre" and out of character.

Edwards admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, assaulting Miss Price, causing actual bodily harm to Mr Lambert, assault by beating of Ms Bailey, and damaging window locks and an internal door at Miss Price's home.

Judge Mary Jane Mowat refused permission for a psychiatric assessment to be carried out, but ordered the Probation Service to compile a pre-sentence report.

She adjourned sentencing until Monday, February 20.

Edwards was remanded in custody.