A thug who pumped air pistol pellets into the face of a stranger – blinding him in one eye – has been jailed for more than five years.

A court heard that victim Alexander Fraser, 23, was hit five times. One of the steel ball bearing type pellets will remain lodged in his left eye.

Brian McGeechan, 21, opened fire at a taxi rank in Tollcross Road, Glasgow, on February 26, a court heard.

Mr Fraser had been enjoying a Friday night out with pals and had arranged to meet up with his girlfriend at the Fullerton Park Hotel, who had been with her friends.

After a few drinks in the bar the group headed out to get a taxi. As they waited, McGeechan made a remark to one of the girls.

They continued to wait and McGeechan was seen holding a black hand gun in front of him. A bystander asked: "Is that a gun he's got?" to which a taxi driver replied: "It's just a pellet gun."

McGeechan walked behind a car, then shot Mr Fraser.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lady Dorrian was told that by the time police arrived, Mr Fraser was bleeding heavily.

McGeechan was identified on CCTV footage because of the yellow jacket he was wearing.

A search of his home at Cobington Place, Ruchazie, Glasgow, failed to find any trace of the weapon used.

In court McGeechan admitted assaulting Mr Fraser to his severe injury, leaving his permanently impaired and scarred for life.

Defence advocate Paul Brown said McGeechan was "utterly ashamed" of what he had done.

Jailing him for five years and four months, Lady Dorrian said McGeechan had shot Mr Fraser for no reason.

The judge also made an order extending McGeechan's licence conditions by four years.