Man who shot stranger in face with airgun jailed

Published on Wednesday 6 July 2011 16:38

A THUG who pumped air pistol pellets into the face of a stranger - blinding him in one eye - was jailed for more than five years yesterday.

A court heard that victim Alexander Fraser, 23, was hit five times, and one of the steel ball-bearing-type pellets will remain lodged in his left eye. Another is still in his jaw, because doctors are afraid that removing it will cause further nerve damage.

Although Mr Fraser can still see with his right eye he has difficulty crossing the road and with tasks such as pouring drinks or picking things up.

Brian McGeechan, 21, opened fire after an exchange of words at a taxi rank in Tollcross Road, Glasgow, on 26 February, a court heard.

Mr Fraser had been enjoying a night out with friends and had arranged to meet his girlfriend at the Fullerton Park Hotel, who had been with her friends.

After a few drinks in the bar the group headed out to get a taxi. As they stood there, McGeechan made a remark to one of the women.

They continued to wait and McGeechan was seen holding a black hand gun in front of him.

A bystander asked: "Is that a gun he's got?" to which a taxi driver replied: "It's just a pellet gun." McGeechan walked behind a car, then shot Mr Fraser who cried out: "I'm blind in my left eye."

Mr Fraser was taken to hospital where surgeons extracted pellets from his brow, forehead and left thumb. A search of McGeechan's home at Cobington Place, Ruchazie, Glasgow, failed to find any trace of the weapon used. Ballistic experts said the pellets could have come from either an air pistol or one using a CO2 cartridge.

In court McGeechan admitted assaulting Mr Fraser to his severe injury, leaving his permanently impaired and scarred for life. He also pleaded guilty to breaching the Firearms Act by carrying a loaded weapon.

He was jailed for five years and four months.