Liam Butson reckoned he was about eight metres away from his friend when he used the slingshot.

Albury Local Court heard this week that the pellet, with a pointed tip, was fired with such momentum that it became lodged in his left upper thigh.

Magistrate Tony Murray was told by police that an X-ray showed the exact location of the slug.

“Initially invasive surgery was going to be required to removed this slug,” police said.

“A decision was made to leave the slug inside the leg.”

Butson pleaded guilty to two separate sets of charges. The slingshot incident, on December 10, resulted in Butson, 26, being charged with reckless wounding and possess or use a prohibited weapon.

He was also convicted on counts of special category driver with a special range prescribed concentration of alcohol and possess explosive in a public place.

That was to do with matters that took place four days earlier, on December 6.

But defence solicitor Mark Cronin pointed out that the explosive charge was not as serious as it sounded.

“The explosives were 10 firecrackers,” he said with a wry smile. “It sounds very dramatic.”

The court was told how police were heading north in Yensch Avenue, North Albury, about 3.30pm when they saw another vehicle pull out in front of them without give way.

Police had to brake suddenly to avoid a collision.

They followed the Butson’s vehicle, eventually stopping it in Regina Avenue where he gave a positive breath test result later confirmed as 0.027.

Police said they found a black case in the glove box that contained the firecrackers.

The second incident resulted from a back verandah drinking session that went for most of the day.

Police said Butson told them he was ‘heavily intoxicated” and at one stage had a rock thrown at him by the victim. He retaliated by firing the pellett.

Butson will be sentenced on February 17.