A spurned lover fired an air rifle as a terrified woman and her young daughter cowered in fear.

The victim described fleeing Adam Woodbridge in terror as the red laser from his rifle sights pursued her - a police officer called to the home in New Ash Green was shot.

Woodbridge, 48, had earlier been told to stay away from her following an allegation he had bitten her finger last year.

But on January 3 he moved next door to the mother and refused to leave when asked.

Prosecutor Allastair Walker told Maidstone Crown Court that the woman claimed he became abusive and threatening and she warned him she would call police.

She revealed later how Woodbridge retorted: "I'd kill you before they arrived."

During the argument, Woodbridge fired the air weapon - with one of the pellets striking a police officer.

Now Woodbridge, of no fixed address, has been jailed for 39 months.

He had admitted charges of possessing an air weapon intending to cause fear and common assault of an emergency worker, two other charges, common assault, assault by beating, which Woodbridge denied, were left on file.

Mr Walker told how in January the defendant had started arguing with an ex at a house in New Ash Green, after she told him to leave.

"She was very scared and left the house. Once outside, she heard the unmistakable click of his air rifle and ran to another house. She could sense something was going to happen.

"As she reached her own rear patio doors she described seeing the red laser from the rifle sights and hearing the first shot which hit the window," he added.

The woman "frantically" closed and locked the door as it was hit by the pellet, the court heard.

Mr Walker said the mum "grabbed" her child and ran upstairs hearing glass being smashed as she barricaded herself in a bedroom after pressing her panic alarm.

"She threw some money out to him after it had gone quiet begging him to stop..."

"The defendant continued to shout and bang on the bedroom door. She described the child as shaking.

"She threw some money out to him after it had gone quiet begging him to stop. He told her 'I’ve got a gun and `I’m going to kill you both', the prosecutor said.

After mum and daughter fled after alerting police, officers arrived and PC Adam Moore asked that the defendant come to the door.

Woodbridge told him to "**** off" adding: "Whoever comes in here is getting hurt."

"The police officers immediately withdrew, contained the address and waited for other units," said the prosecutor.

After a brief stand-off, Woodbridge finally put the weapon on a table and was arrested.

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