Shots at house were 'error of judgement'

It was a "slight error of judgement" when Phillip James Shand picked up an air rifle and fired it at his neighbour's house.

That was what the 46-year-old told Judge Philip Crayton in the Whanganui District Court on Wednesday.

Shand got into an argument with his Morgan St, Castlecliff neighbour on June 30, grabbed a .177 air rifle, and shot it at the neighbour's house six times. Two shots hit the building, cracking windows.

"What I did was wrong, I take all responsibility," Shand said in court.

"I regret what I did . . . It was a slight error of judgement."

He said the house had regular squatters, which caused problems for him.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier appearance to discharging a firearm near a dwelling.

Judge Crayton said Shand had a history of criminal offending between 1989-92, but did not appear before the court for 17 years after that. There was another period of offending, then Shand did not offend for seven years.

"It is therefore with some sadness that the court has to deal with him again today."

He encouraged Shand to let "the boys in blue" deal with his issues in the future.

"You can't go around loosing off an air rifle even if you lose your temper and even if the people . . . are making your life difficult."

Judge Crayton said the person living at the house "doesn't appear to be an official occupant, the home being somewhat derelict".

Shand said the house was now under new ownership and he had offered to help the owner with renovations.

Judge Crayton sentenced him to 120 hours of community work.