GRUNDISBURGH man Alexander Powell, whose "irresponsible behaviour" led to his girlfriend being shot and wheelchair-bound, has today been jailed.Judge Nicholas Beddard, sitting at Ipswich Crown Court, jailed the 22-year-old, of Stoney Road, to 18 months in prison.

GRUNDISBURGH man Alexander Powell, whose "irresponsible behaviour" led to his girlfriend being shot and wheelchair-bound, has today been jailed.

Judge Nicholas Beddard, sitting at Ipswich Crown Court, jailed the 22-year-old, of Stoney Road, to 18 months in prison.

Powell had pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm without a firearms certificate and to causing an affray.

The court heard that an argument between Powell and his former girlfriend, Michelle Coulson, led to Powell barricading himself into his home with his father's replica antique shotgun, which he had then loaded.

Powell, who has self-harmed and attempted suicide before and since the tragedy, fired shots into the house walls before threatening himself.

His father got into the house and struggled to disarm his son but the gun dropped through the stair bannister, causing it to fire at Miss Coulson, whose spinal cord was severed.

Judge Beddard said although the sentence would not reflect the gravity of the injuries caused to Miss Coulson, it "must reflect your irresponsible behaviour".