Benjamin JonesGARDENER Benjamin Jones was sacked from his job while he was being questioned by police after firing his shotgun from his flat window.

Jones, 29, scared his employer Amanda Sunley who feared for the life of her three children when she heard shots being fired just after 7am on September 12.

Kennet Magistrates' Court in Devizes on Tuesday heard Mrs Sunley got herself and her children out of Hillbarn House in the High Street, Great Bedwyn, after hearing eight to ten shots being fired from Jones' flat within Hillbarn House.

Nicola Wootton, prosecuting, said: "This was the scariest moment of Mrs Sunley's life and she said she feared for the life of her children."

Armed police officers swooped on the village and Jones was arrested.

Jones, who had been gardener at Hillbarn House for ten years, told the police he was stunned at the armed response and said he had been cleaning out the shotgun. He said he had been told one of the best ways of doing this was to discharge the gun.

Jones' solicitor Nick Redhead said: "While Mr Jones was at the police station following his arrest, a fax arrived from the master of the house at Hillbarn House informing Mr Jones they considered what he had done amounted to gross misconduct and he was dismissed forthwith. He lost his job and accommodation."

The court heard that Jones is now living with his parents in Dorset.

Mr Redhead said Jones found the police response "bizarre" but accepted that what he did was not the best way to clean his shotgun.

Jones was bound over to keep the peace for 12 months. He was also given a conditional discharge for 12 months for possessing 13 rounds of ammunition without holding a firearms certificate.

The court heard the ammunition had been found by Jones while he had been out metal detectoring and most of it was dilapidated. The magistrates did not revoke his shotgun licence.