Months of suffering at children's hands drove a young householder to fire an air rifle into a street of youngsters, York magistrates heard.

Shane Bert West, 23, injured a 10-year-old girl when he shot out of the window of his home in Crombie Avenue, Clifton, in an attempt to stop children throwing stones at his house, York magistrates heard.

It was the latest in months of harassment by children aged between nine and 15 since he moved into the area last year from Selby, said his solicitor John Howard.

"Crombie Avenue is a fairly notorious street in York, in particular at the top end and Crichton Avenue," the solicitor continued.

"There has been a great deal of public disorder and disturbance generally".

West had behaved out of character and had apologised to the girl and her parents.

Magistrates accepted his attempts to make amends, but told him: "You cannot take the law into your own hands."

They ordered him to do 150 hours' community service, pay £75 compensation to the girl and £70 court costs.

West pleaded guilty to assault.

Prosecutor David Garnett said the victim was playing near where some children were throwing stones. She did not know what they were aiming at.

She heard an air gun fire and a few minutes later heard another sound and a pellet hit her hand causing a bruise.

Mr Howard said West moved to Crombie Avenue from Selby ten months earlier after an estate agent told him it was a "reasonable area to live in".

But the court heard Crombie Avenue was a "fairly notorious street in York" particularly near its junction with Crichton Avenue where there have been a "great deal of public disorder" and arrests. At first local children had been welcoming, but they had started taking advantage of West and his partner until the couple had discouraged any more visits.

The youngsters had then begun causing problems for West including putting mud on his car, said Mr Howard.

On February 25, children had been throwing stones at his window and kicking at his door until he took an air rifle from his tenant and fired it to frighten them off.

He had not aimed at anyone and had only fired once.

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