Tan Hill Inn: Accused said 'goodnight sweetheart' and pulled trigger

Richard Bowser is accused of attempting to murder Lee Jackson at the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire

A man accused of attempted murder said "goodnight sweetheart" as he held a gun against another man's head, only for the weapon to misfire, a court heard.

Richard Bowser is accused of attempting to kill Lee Jackson at the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire on 21 July.

Mr Jackson tried to escape after the gun failed to discharge but was shot in the arm moments later, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Mr Bowser, 46, of Bishop Auckland, denies two counts of attempted murder.

The court had previously heard Mr Bowser had been involved in a brawl at the pub, near Reeth, after becoming aggressive when his bank card was declined.

During the fight he assaulted three people, including Mr Jackson's brother-in-law, Karl Pearson, before being ejected.

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Giving evidence, Mr Jackson told the court his wife had later asked him to go and check on Mr Pearson.

He said he had found him in his camper van "shook up", with "bloodshot eyes" and blood on his face.

He told the jury he had then gone to a glamping pod on the site where Mr Bowser was staying.

"In my head I was making sure there was nobody else hurt or needed help," he said.

Defending, Alistair MacDonald KC, however, said Mr Jackson deliberately went looking for Mr Bowser.

"It's not a coincidence that you happened to stride straight towards the pod where Mr Bowser was staying and your immediate thought was to get in," he told him.

Mr Bowser is on trial at Teesside Crown Court

Mr Jackson said he "did not know" who Mr Bowser was at that time or where he was staying.

He claimed the defendant "came at me aggressively" after he had "just had a nosey through the gaps in the fence".

"The gate flung open, he came straight out and said: 'You have come for me'," he told the jury.

"There was no reasoning with him, I was scared. I tried to get away."

Mr Jackson said he told the defendant he was looking for the toilet, to which he replied: "I'll take you to the toilet".

He said he had been "petrified" as they walked down a path towards a bathroom. It was there where Mr Bowser produced what Mr Jackson initially thought was a toy gun and held it to his head.

"He said: 'Goodnight Sweetheart' and pulled the trigger," said Mr Jackson.

"The gun didn't go off. He looked surprised [and] went to do something to the gun.

"I think I then came slightly out of shock, realised it was a real gun, maybe, then bolted away."

He said he had fled to a nearby bunk room and locked the door behind him.

Once inside he said more shots were fired at the door and then he noticed blood dripping down his right hand and called the police.

Mr Bowser has previously pleaded guilty to assaulting three people and possession of a firearm, but denies a charge of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life as well as two counts of attempted murder.

The trial continues.