A TEENAGER shot a man with a pellet gun from the window of a van, a court was told.

Ophie Sykes, 19, of The Copse, Accrington, had bought the gun for £4 from a shop in Burnley before firing it at Jonathan Whittaker, 18, at Whiteash Playing Fields, Oswaldtwistle.

Burnley Crown Court was told that Mr Whittaker knew his attacker from school, was injured and must have been terrified not knowing if the gun was real or not.

Sykes, said to be a leading member of Oswaldtwistle Youth and Community Centre, had earlier admitted possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

He was jailed for a year which was suspended for 18 months, with 150 hours unpaid work, £150 costs and £400 compensation.

Judge Edward Slinger told the defendant when a firearm was pointed at somebody, the person could not be expected, in what was called "the agony of the moment," to know whether it was real or not.

The judge, who had read testimonials on the defendant's behalf, said, however, he would give Sykes a chance, as he accepted the defendant had been stupid and did not intend to cause harm.

Mark Smith, prosecuting, told the court Sykes was in a van at Whiteash Playing Fields, Oswaldtwistle, and from the passenger window he fired one shot at Mr Whittaker.

A plastic pellet struck the victim, causing swelling and a circular mark on his arm.

When interviewed by police, Sykes said the gun recovered from the van was his but denied shooting at Mr Whittaker.

But he claimed he would take responsibility to save "messing around".

Martin Hackett, defending, said Sykes had never troubled the courts before.

Mr Hackett said the offence was wholly out of character.