A YOUNG child was left in "great pain" after being hit with a pellet from a BB gun.

Mark Bell, 48, had been shooting the weapon while sitting on the toilet when it hit the child.

Appearing for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Bell, of Kildownie Crescent, had previously admitted that on September 28 last year at his home, he culpably and recklessly fired a BB gun which struck a boy on the arm with a pellet, to his injury.

Depute Fiscal, Jane Doig, said the child had been staying overnight at Bell's home.

"During the course of the night, a BB gun had been found," she told the Court. "The accused was sitting on the toilet shooting the BB gun and it was at this point, one of the ball bearings struck the boy in the arm. It caused great pain and he cried for about ten minutes."

The incident left a hole in the boy's top and a red mark on his arm.

Solicitor, Alexander Flett, said the incident came to light after the boy told someone at school that he had been shot in the arm.

"He had the gun and was shooting towards a target," he said.

"The child was in one room and came out of the room and was struck. It must have been fairly foreseeable that he could have come out of the room.

"He recognises the seriousness of this offence and he is remorseful for what has taken place."

Sheriff James Macdonald said he was satisfied the offence was "just short" of a custodial sentence.

"I want you to understand just how close you have been to receiving a custodial sentence," he added.

He placed Bell on a community payback order requiring him to carry out 210 hours of unpaid work within four months.