A MASKED gunman who shot at a 27-year-old car driver in a terrifying broad daylight murder bid was branded a “danger to the public” as he was jailed for nine and a half years.

Steven Nelson, 28, from Drumchapel, admitted attempting to murder the man by firing a shotgun at him in Kingsway Court, Scotstounhill, on May 20, last year.

He also pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a shotgun.

Judge Lady Stacey ordered Nelson to be monitored for three years after his release.

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The High Court in Glasgow heard the victim was only saved from serious injury because he ducked as the shot was fired.

The left shoulder area of the driver's seat was damaged whilepellets smashed into the head rest and rear passenger window.

Ballistics experts said that the damage to the black Audi was caused by a a single discharge from a 12 bore shotgun.

The victim pressed the accelerator and his car shot forward striking a parked car and a tree.

The red Audi A3, in which Nelson, who has previous convictions for assault and possession of a machete, was a backseat passenger, sped off and was found burnt out in Queen's View car park near Blanefield.

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The four others in the car all had their faces partially covered with t-shirts.

The A3 driver asked the victim his name.

The court heard that the A3 driver then moved his head to the left and Nelson, who was sitting behind him, put a shotgun was put through the driver's window and fired a single shot.

Nelson claimed his car window had been smashed by someone in a black Audi, which caused him to veer off through roadworks and suffer a cut to his head. Defence QC Donald Findlay said: “This was to be something of a frightener and things went badly wrong.”

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