A MAN who ran up an Oxfordshire street wielding a BB gun before firing shots at a group in a bid to scare them has been convicted.

Alan Bumpass of Sunny Side, Benson, had denied the one count of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence.

As his trial at Oxford Crown Court came to an end yesterday the 24-year old shook his head in disbelief after the jury returned a verdict of guilty after just over one hour of deliberations.

During the trial the court heard from an 11-year old witness who spotted Bumpass at The Street, Wallingford, wielding what he described as a handgun.

He told officers that Bumpass was chasing three men before he fired two shots in their direction.

The court also heard that at police interview Bumpass had told officers that he had 'thrown a gun' into the Thames after the incident.

Bumpass later claimed that it was only a torch he had been carrying on the night of November 15 last year, and not an imitation weapon.

On hearing the verdicts Judge Peter Ross ordered that the sentencing be adjourned until today in order for reports to be prepared and as Bumpass left the dock he was warned to expect a jail term.

The judge said: "This is a case which passes the custody threshold by a considerable margin.

"You need to prepare yourself to receive a sentence of imprisonment."

Bumpass will also be sentenced at the same court for an earlier matter of dangerous driving which took place three weeks before the gun incident.