A MAN who shot BB pellets at a house in Worcester with an imitation handgun has been ordered to undergo drug rehabilitation.

Joshua Glackin was handed a 12-month community order at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to having the imitation pistol in a public place and to criminal damage.

The 21-year-old shot at the windows of a house in Ennerdale Close, Warndon, on Saturday, February 23.

Andrew Davidson, defending, said Glackin’s drug addiction was “the centre of gravity” for his problems.

The court ruled he will have to remain under supervision for 12 months and undergo a six-month drug rehabilitation course after Judge Richard Rundell told him shooting the BB gun could have caused much more damage than just broken windows.

“Had it discharged pellets in the face of any other person, it could have put their eyes out,” he said. That is the danger of these imitations, such as that carried by you.”

He said Glackin of Teesdale Close, Droitwich, had already served the equivalent of a 12-month prison sentence while in custody waiting for his case to be dealt with, and decided getting him off drugs would be of greater benefit to society than sending him back to prison.

“This will be of benefit to you and to your family, but also to the benefit of the wider community,” he added.

“You need to rehabilitate yourself and start living a decent and worthwhile life.”

Glackin had pleaded not guilty to possessing the imitation firearm with intent to wound, and to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, which the prosecution accepted.