A 46-year-old painter has been jailed for firing a pump-action shotgun during a West Coast confrontation.

Danny Harold Kay was sentenced two years six months in prison in Christchurch District Court today for committing a dangerous act with intent to injure.

On September 23, Kay and two others went to his victim's address and parked his car in a paddock. They walked through the bush, with Kay holding the shotgun.

The group hid in bush, but a dog and a goat alerted the victim, and he yelled out to the group that he had called the police.

He blocked Kay's car with his vehicle, and smashed all the windows with a log splitter.

Kay fired shots at the victim, who was then in his vehicle.

Judge Paul Kellar gave Kay the first of the three strike warnings that impose heavier penalties on repeat violent offenders.

Judge Kellar said the extent of harm included the emotional effects on the victim, but the victim had inflamed the offending by his conduct.

He said Kay had a limited criminal history. He ordered the shotgun to be forfeited.

Defence counsel Tony Garrett said since Kay's offending he had an improved outlook, attitude, and behaviour, and his parents had been pivotal in altering his priorities.

He said Kay would not return to the Barrytown area, and would leave the West Coast.

- © Fairfax NZ News