A 55-year-old man has been given a five-year jail sentence for firing a handgun at a neighbour.

A jury at Oxford Crown Court yesterday found William Muir, of Chillingworth Crescent, Wood Farm, Oxford, guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life by majority verdict.

The shooting happened at about 10pm on July 29 last year following an argument between Muir, who has previous convictions for possessing firearms and assault, and Darren Merchant, who lived opposite him.

Mr Merchant said Muir, whom he did not know, shouted incoherently at him through the window of his car when he collected his son from playing fields near his house.

Half-an-hour later, Muir went to Mr Merchant's house, asked him outside, then pulled out a Berretta gun.

Mr Merchant ran indoors but he heard a loud bang and felt something fly past his face.

Once inside, he took a broom, ran back outside and struck Muir over the head with it several times, causing the handle to break.

Muir told police he approached Mr Merchant, who has children, because children had been annoying him by shining a laser light into his house. During his trial, he admitted having an argument with Mr Merchant, but denied owning or using a gun.

In passing sentence, Judge Julian Hall said: "You frightened him, he took retribution on you, but it was a very nasty incident."