AN ALCOHOLIC who started shooting at people in the street with an air rifle following an argument with his wife has been jailed for three years.

Dean Martin House, 48, shot at the police, his own mother and his neighbours outside his home in Hartland Drive, South Ruislip, on New Year's Day.

Yesterday Harrow Crown Court heard how the father-of-two went off the rails when his wife, Yuana Bachurolia, returned home late that day.

An argument ensued and she ended up going to the neighbour's to escape from her husband, who had just slashed the tyres on his car with a knife to stop her from leaving.

The neighbours called the police and when they arrived they saw House produce a rifle from a cupboard.

Peter Ratliff, prosecuting, said: "The officer pulled his mother out of the house and the defendant came out and pointed the rifle directly at them and shouted 'I will f***ing shoot you'.

"He then pointed the rifle towards the driver's windows of the police vehicle and two shots were fired.

"He turned his attention to his neighbour's house where his wife had taken shelter and Mr Cummings (the neighbour) was observing from the bedroom window. The defendant aimed the rifle towards the window and shot at it.

"He then shot the porch window and smashed the sitting room window with the butt of his rifle and put the barrel of his gun through it.

"He pointed the rifle towards his head and then he collapsed. It would appear he shot himself in the ear with the force of the air escaping the barrel."

House had only finished a inpatient detoxification course at Hillingdon Hospital for his alcohol problems two weeks prior to this when he decided to get drunk.

James Scobie, defending, said: "He is an alcoholic and he was having marital problems.

"He apologises for his condition, which he says must have been frightening to those at the scene, but it was clearly a one off."

Her Honour Judge Patricia Dangor said: "This is a very serious matter Mr House without a doubt. A totally terrifying episode for your wife, your mother, your neighbours and the police.

"You intended to put your wife in fear, but the affect of that was to put many other people in fear."

House pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a firearm without a certificate, affray, criminal damage and possessing an air weapon with intent to cause fear of violence.