A man fired a crossbow through the window of his friend's house in the early hours of the morning, a court has heard.
A judge told Alexander Jones he was lucky he had not caused serious injury or even death by using the "serious and highly dangerous weapon" in the street. Jones' victim said he doubted he would ever be able to get a good night's sleep in the property again.
Alexander Greenwood, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court that Jones and his victim lived near each other in the Grangetown area of Cardiff and had been friends for around 20 years by the time of the incident in November last year though in the months leading up to the attack their relationship had "declined".
He said that in the early hours of November 2 the victim was in his bedroom at the back of his property getting ready for bed when he heard a "massive bang" which sounded like his front door being "kicked in". The victim went into the front bedroom and looked out onto the street but couldn't initially see anyone.
The court heard he stepped back from the window into the shadows in the room and continued to keep his eye on the road, and a short time later he saw his neighbour Jones emerging from behind a parked car holding a crossbow - the householder ran from the room and Jones then fired the weapon through the window.
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Police were called and officers were soon on the scene. The 43-year-old defendant was arrested at home and a crossbow was seized. In his subsequent interview Jones confirmed he knew the victim but he denied he had been the person seen in the street with a crossbow, and he claimed he could not fire such a weapon due to his arthritis.
In an impact statement which was read to the court by the prosecutor Jones' victim said he had been left feeling "constantly on edge" and suffering with panic attacks. He said the bolt had been fired through his son's bedroom window - though his son had not been staying with him that night - and he said he felt like he didn't want to be in his house anymore, adding: "I doubt I will ever have a good night's sleep here again."
Alexander Jones, whose address was given as Orchard Drive, Bridport, Dorset, had previously pleaded guilty to attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent, and to possession of an offensive weapon when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has 10 previous convictions for 14 offences including affray, harassment, and acquisitive offences including handling stolen goods.
David Pinnell, for Jones, said the defendant was on prescription medication for anxiety and depression, and was unable to work due to ill-health and mobility issues. He said at the time of the incident the defendant had been living with his mother, and he said it was clear from the pre-sentence report that there was a level of "interdependency" between them with Jones providing care for his mum who was also in poor health.
Judge Wayne Beard said in the early hours of the morning Jones went out into the street with a "serious and highly dangerous weapon" which he fired towards his neighbour. He told the defendant he was lucky the bolt had not caused any injury "or even worse" as it could have done.
The judge said the starting point for sentence after trial for causing grievous bodily harm with intent was seven years - to reflect the fact it was an attempted offence and not a completed one, that was reduced to five and a half years, and then increased to six years because of the aggravating factor of the defendant's previous convictions.
With a 20% discount for the guilty plea the sentence was reduced to four years and 10 months, and the judge said he would reduce it by a further four months to allow for the mitigation of the defendant's poor health and the impact on the defendant's mother of him being in custody, making a sentence of four-and-a-half years. Jones was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the possession of an offensive weapon charge to run concurrently.
The defendant will serve up to half the four-and-a-half year sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. He was also made the subject of a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim for the next five years.
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