A GARAGE worker shot at a rival business owner with an air gun after a long-running feud erupted into violence, a court has heard.

Robert Bielecki, of Mold Crescent, Banbury, denies one count of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence.

The 25-year old, prosecutors said as his trial began at Oxford Crown Court yesterday, had been an employee at Pete’s Garage, Lower Cherwell Street, Banbury, on the night of the attack on the business owner of rival firm – A & B Car Service – based just metres away.

The court heard that company boss Clirim Dehari had been driving along Canal Street shortly after 7pm on August 24, 2016, when he was set upon by a number of unidentified men.

CCTV footage played to the jury of 11 women and one man, appeared to show dozens of cars driving past a nearby main road as the brawl spilled out on to the street.

Minutes later, in an apparent bid to escape, Mr Dehari gets back into his car before ramming into the back of another vehicle, which Bielecki, who had just arrived on the scene, sits inside.

Bielecki then appears to get out of the black Audi vehicle before pointing the loaded gas-powered pistol at the Mercedes and firing twice before fleeing the scene.

Opening the trial, prosecutor Julian Lynch said: “This is an escalated dispute about something very minor and all parties acted, to put it bluntly, bad.

“But that doesn’t excuse the behaviour of Mr Bielecki.”

Taking to the witness box the alleged victim, Mr Dehari, told jurors: “He had a gun with him, it was a black handgun. It looked like a real gun. He pointed the gun towards my car and he shoots the windscreen two or three times.

“I was too scared and wanted to get out. I was scared by so many people and I was on my own.”

Bielecki maintains that he acted in ‘reasonable self defence’ after Mr Dehari appeared to ‘ram’ the vehicle he was a passenger of.

The trial continues.