TWO men have been jailed after two fishermen were shot in the head with an air pistol.

Defendants Modestas Kubilius, 24, and Gintas Piscelinas, 26, got into a row with three fishermen at Tilgate Lake near Crawley in the early hours of May 11.

Kubilius and Piscelinas, who are both originally from Lithuania, confronted their victims over lighting a fire.

One of the men went to call the police while the two Lithuanians went through their tent and found the pistol.

Kubilius shot one of the victims at point blank range. The victim put his hand up – preventing him being hit in the eye.

Piscelinas also took the weapon and fired at another man.

Kubilius, 24, a builder of Walesbeech, Crawley, and Piscelinas, 26, unemployed, of Tierney Road, London, admitted possession of an air weapon with intent to cause fear of violence and actual bodily harm at Lewes Crown Court.

Kubilius was jailed for four years and Piscelinas for 34 months.

They were both warned that they will be deported after serving their sentences.

Detective constable Simon Goulding said: “This was a very violent, unprovoked and unnecessary attack on the victim, who suffered a terrible ordeal in the middle of the night.”