A pensioner who threatened his love rival with a gun - then accidentally shot himself - has been jailed for five years.

Patrick Collins, 68, shot himself in the hand when he confronted the man who had run off with his partner of over 30 years, Susan Cassup.

Miss Cassup began the affair with Andrew Huntley after Collins hired him to work as a chef at his cafe - Cassie's Cafe, in Durham City.

When Miss Cassup eventually left Collins for Mr Huntley, Collins armed himself with a modified airgun and arranged to meet his rival in a pub.

The two men sat down to talk and Collins pulled out the gun after grilling Mr Huntley on his sex life.

He pointed it straight at Mr Huntley's head - but ended up shooting himself in the hand when Mr Huntley bravely wrestled him for the gun.

Collins, of Blackhall Farm, Sandhoe, Northumberland appeared at Newcastle Crown Court today and pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited firearm and possessing a firearm with the intent to cause fear of violence.

Katherine Dunn, prosecuting, said: "The defendant was aged 67 at the time. He had been in a lengthy relationship with his common wife Susan Cassup.

"Miss Cassup describes the relationship as stormy and violent. It appears Miss Cassup was scared for her safety - it's clear this defendant had a knowledge of guns. He used to run a gun club.

"It was obvious the relationship was struggling and it appeared the injured party Mr Andrew Huntley was working for the defendant.

"He was working for the defendant at a place called Cassie's Kitchen in Durham, also Miss Cassup was working in Cassie's Kitchen. Initially, Andrew Huntley offered help and support to Miss Cassup but the relationship then developed."

The court heard that after Miss Cassup left Collins in March, he phoned Mr Huntley and asked to meet with him because he wanted to talk.

The two men met up on March 9 in a Wetherspoons pub in Hexham at 3.30pm.

Miss Dunn said: "Mr Huntley was wary of this defendant and recorded the conversation. They sat down together and began to talk.

"The defendant produced a piece of paper and began to ask a number of questions."

Mr Huntley then watched in horror as Collins pulled a gun on him and pointed it towards his head.

He started to scream for help and tried to wrestle the gun out of Collins' hands.

Miss Dunn said: "During the struggle, the gun fired. The defendant himself was injured and his hand began to drip with blood."

Police searched Collins and found eight rounds of live ammunition.

A search in his home uncovered 22 containers of black powder, 40 tins of pellets, five airguns, eight bullets, two rifles, a cross-bow as well as shot-gun cartridges and a large quantity of ammunition.

In his car were 13 rounds of live ammunition and a 22 ammunition toolbox.

In mitigation, Geoff Knowles, said: "It is somewhat of a tragic situation.

"This was a man who was effectively on the edge, who was suffering a breakdown, who did not know what else to do.

Mr Knowles added that Collins and Miss Cassup had reconciled their relationship and vowed to wait for him while he is in prison.