ARMED police were called to an estate when a teenager fired an airgun from a bathroom window.

Bradley Appleby was shooting at trees from an upstairs window of his grandmother's home, in Chatham Square, Sunderland, when a pellet went astray.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how a neighbour in nearby Corinthea Square thought he was being shot at, and immediately alerted police.

When the 18-year-old was confronted by officers from the armed response unit, he admitted he had been firing the .22 air pistol, which belonged to his father.

A search of the house also revealed an air rifle and ammunition.

The teenager told police he had not deliberately fired at his neighbour, and told them: "I would not even throw a stone at anyone."

Appleby, who was living with his grandmother at Chatham Square when the incident happened last April, admitted common assault.

He was fined £250 and ordered to pay £55 prosecution costs.

Judge Esmond Faulks said the weapons would be confiscated unless Appleby's father, who owned the guns, made representations in court.

The judge told Appleby: "You were very silly in what you did. Fortunately, you did not injure anybody, but you gave your neighbour a bit of a fright."