Leeds man threatened to shoot his neighbour in the head with air rifle during doorstep dispute over cash

Steven Cowan turned up at the victim's home in Halton Moor in the middle of the night wearing a balaclava and carrying an air rifle.

Cowan, 47, aimed the weapon at his former pal and said: "Give me £200 or I am going to shoot you eight times. You will take them in the boat race."

Leeds Crown Court heard Cowan and the victim live near each other and had been friends for a number of years before the incident on April 13 this year.

James Lake, prosecuting, said the two men fell out over money which Cowan claimed the victim owed him.

Cowan turned up at the man's home on Appleby Place at 1.15am and knocked on the door.

He had a balaclava over his head and was carrying an air rifle over his shoulder.

Mr Lake said the victim instantly recognised Cowan despite the defendant wearing a disguise.

The victim said to Cowan: "What are you doing here at this time, Steven?"

Cowan demanded money and told the victim to get his bank card but he refused to hand it over.

Mr Lake said: "He pointed the air rifle at him and said 'give me £200 or I am going to shoot you eight times. You will take them in the boat race', meaning face".

The victim feared Cowan was going to shoot him but told him to leave and to stop trying to intimidate him.