A fugitive told a jury he was shot twice by police after he decided to give himself up.

Chris Maitland said he heard a "crack, thump" as a bullet went straight through his lower left leg. He said he heard a second louder shot and felt an impact on his left buttock.

Maitland told Hove Crown Court it felt like someone hitting him with a sledge hammer.

He said: "It was burning agony. It was the most unbearable pain I have ever felt."

Maitland was wounded after climbing scaffolding at St Peter's Church, Brighton, on April 18 last year.

He had phoned police to tell them he was on the run from prison and would be waiting for them there with a Browning automatic pistol.

He said they had better come "armed to the teeth" as he was not going to hand himself in.

Police marksman PC Ian Potter had earlier told the court he fired a single shot at Maitland.

He said the Maitland had allegedly fired two shots at him with what he believed was a high-powered gun.

A bullet from PC Potter's gun was later removed from Maitland's thighbone.

Maitland said: "When a police car arrived I thought it was all over. I needed someone to talk to and here they were.

"I had absolutely no intention or resisting arrest.

"After I told him my name the first thing he did was get his gun out and point it at me.

"I thought he was going to shoot me even though I had not done anything."

Maitland said he took his air pistol out and unloaded it because he did not want anyone to get hurt.

He told the court he then pointed the Walther CP88 gas-powered pistol above his head and fired twice into the air.

Maitland said: "Almost right away there was a crack, thud."

Maitland, of Seamill Crescent, Worthing, has admitted possessing an offensive weapon. He denies two charges of having a gun with intent to resist arrest and using it to resist arrest.

The trial continues.