A SACKED factory worker who shot an engineer at his former workplace was jailed yesterday.

Duncan Quinn, 22, of Fountains Court, Skelton, east Cleveland, was jailed for 21 months at Teesside Crown Court, after admitting affray and possessing an offensive weapon.

Robin Denny, prosecuting, said the incident took place in August last year, after Quinn had been sacked for damaging a machine at the Trelleborg factory, on the Skelton Industrial Estate, after only a few days' employment.

Quinn returned on his birthday three months later, drunk and carrying an air rifle. He fired three shots at tools engineer Andrew Greenwood, hitting him once on the ear protectors he was wearing.

Robin Turton, defending, said Quinn had done it for a lark, but accepted it had been terrifying for his victim.

Quinn had spent five months in jail on a charge of aggravated burglary, which the Crown dropped.