A DRUNKEN man who fired "pot shots" at pedestrians from the window of a flat has been jailed for two years.

Ian Taylor hit three men and a woman in the back with pellets from a .22 air rifle he fired from the window of the second floor property in Preston New Road, Blackburn.

Preston Crown Court heard Taylor, 36, and a second man had been drinking the night before the incident.

Judge Brian Duckworth said: "You were taking pot shots at them as if rabbits to be knocked over in a field."

The Judge said the defendant was "irresponsible, dangerous and a tremendous potential for serious injury".

Taylor, of Thornton Close, Higher Croft, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to four charges of unlawful wounding relating to events in August last year.

Rachael Woods, prosecuting, said Taylor had boasted to a friend about shooting people in the past and then fire at man outside.

The following morning, between 8.40 and 9am, Taylor indiscriminately shot at people from the vantage of the top flat. Each person sustained a wound to the back, said the prosecution.

A man walking to the gym he heard a crack and felt extreme pain. This brought him to his knees. He was treated at Blackburn Infirmary for a flesh wound.

Another victim was a 71-year-old man who felt a thud to his back, though initially he did not realise he had been shot. Later he realised he was bleeding and also went on to receive hospital treatment.

The court also heard how a 25-year-old woman walking to work was about to cross the road when she felt a pain in the right shoulder. She went to work and was taken to hospital with a flesh wound.

Finally, a 25-year-old Spanish pharmacist was shot but did not need to go to hospital.

The prosecution said that at one point Taylor commented: "This guy deserves to get popped."

A witness said Taylor was laughing around that time and appeared to be enjoying himself.

An armed response unit went to the scene and officers found 29 pellets in Taylor's trouser pocket a Webley rifle and a telescopic sight.

He told police "I never meant to shoot anyone. I was only shooting at some crows in the park."

The defendant specifically denied shooting at anyone in particular.

Nick Kennedy, defending, said Taylor had engaged in ridiculous drunken criminal behaviour. "The injuries were flesh wounds. To the best of his recollection, he had shot out of the window on two or three occasions. Two others at the flat have referred to someone else, who was once the defendant's co-accused, having shot out of the window. The defendant has to face the music for his conduct on this occasion."

Over the last few years Taylor was said to have developed a moderate to severe dependence on alcohol. A doctor's report said he needed specialist psychiatric help.

Judge Brian Duckworth said it was a very dangerous state of affairs when someone, not in control of themselves, was armed with an air gun.

He also told Taylor "You could have hit them in the neck and severed an artery. You could have hit them in the eye and blinded them.

"You could have caused all sorts of very serious injuries. In each case it must have been a very distressing and frightening experience for all four of them. You were taking pot shots at them as if rabbits to be knocked over in a field."