Tan Hill Inn: Accused claims he wanted to scare shooting victim

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

A man accused of attempting to murder another man when he fired four shots at a bedroom door has told jurors he did not think anyone was behind it.

Richard Bowser is accused of trying to kill Lee Jackson at the Tan Hill Inn, near Reeth, North Yorkshire on 21 July.

He said his actions had been "very stupid" but claimed he had only wanted to "scare" Mr Jackson, adding: "I didn't even think he was there."

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

Teesside Crown Court has previously heard Mr Bowser confronted Mr Jackson when he came looking for him following a fight at the pub during which Mr Jackson's brother-in-law had been injured.

Mr Bowser is said to have put a gun to Mr Jackson's head and pulled the trigger, but the chamber was empty.

When Mr Jackson ran off and hid in a nearby bunk room the defendant is said to have loaded the weapon and fired four shots at the door of the room, with one bullet hitting Mr Jackson in the arm.

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Referring to the first incident Mr Bowser told the court said "I was trying to frighten him.

"[Then] he burst out laughing. I didn't expect that. I was that shocked I thought: 'I'll show you it's real'."

Mr Bowser said he had then fired it at the door, but told jurors: "I didn't even think he was there, I thought he had gone."

Describing his actions as "very stupid [and] very dangerous", he added: "It was purely to scare him because he came looking for us."

The court has previously heard Mr Bowser had a revolver and a shot gun with him at the pub, where he was staying in a glamping pod.

He said he had taken the weapons with him as the result of a five-year-long feud with another man, which had escalated to the point where he feared for his safety and that of his family.

"It was a means to scare them away," he said.

Asked about the earlier fight, in which Mr Jackson's relative and two other people were injured, Mr Bowser said his behaviour was "disgusting" and he was "ashamed".

Mr Bowser has admitted admitted assaulting three people but denies a charge of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life as well as two counts of attempted murder.

The trial continues.