Paint capsules are fired from the guns using compressed air

Dion Hunter 23, of Barry, south Wales, was a passenger in a sports car when he took the pot-shots at passers-by.

Cardiff Crown Court was told on Wednesday that Hunter's actions had been "witless tomfoolery".

Hunter admitted three charges of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Hunter had fired the paintball gun three times in Barry's town centre.

The sound of a gun being fired is enough to put fear into anyone Judge Robert Britton

Prosecutor Alex Greenwood told the court that Hunter was a passenger in a friend's Ford Probe sports car when he first fired at a bus.

He said: "The bus driver heard a whistling sound pass his head then saw his front windscreen had been hit.

"He described the incident as shocking and immediately contacted police."

Hunter next fired at a former soldier David Prosser as he walked along the road with his girlfriend.

'Ducked down'

Mr Greenwood said: "He had served in the Army and recognised the sound of a gun being fired.

"He ducked down and pulled his girlfriend to the ground alongside him in reaction to the sound as a result of his military training.

"He saw a blue car pull away at high speed with the passenger pointing something at him.

"Mr Prosser told police he feared for his life and for that of his girlfriend."

The third victim was a cyclist who said he saw the Ford Probe pull alongside him before Hunter wound down the window and fired a shot.

The court heard police later stopped the car and arrested Hunter.

'Witless tomfoolery'

Officers searched his home and found photographs of him posing with the paintball gun.

Hunter admitted three charges of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

But the court heard he meant the actions as a "practical joke" and did not aim to hit his victims.

Meirion Davies, defending Hunter, said: "Nobody was going to be injured as a result of this witless piece of tomfoolery."

Jailing Hunter for 12 months, Judge Robert Britton said: "The sound of a gun being fired is enough to put fear into anyone.

"Your actions caused distress to all those involved."

Paintballing was first introduced to the UK in the 1980s and is now widely available as a supervised game.

Participants wear protective clothing and eyewear to shield themselves from the paintballs, which are shot from compressed air or gas rifles and travel at considerable speed.