AN ILLEGAL immigrant who blasted shots at a rival gang during a clash in the street on his birthday has been locked up for five years.

Albanian-native Kujtim Elezaj pulled out a starting pistol on armed gang members when a feud broke out in an East Oxford street.

The 25-year-old, who will be deported after serving half of his sentence in a UK jail, tried to trick rivals into thinking he was firing a gun and they would be wounded or killed.

Sentencing at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday, Judge Peter Ross condemned Elezaj for shooting the imitation firearm, believed to be the 'sort used by Olympic starters'.

The 'extreme violence' between the two Albanian gangs must have been terrifying for witnesses spotting the tussle unfold on Ridgefield Road, he said.

Judge Ross went on to tell Elezaj he would review his sentence if he revealed where the pistol was, instead of claiming it was thrown into the river.

He added: "You had the imitation firearm for one reason, and one reason only - it was to persuade someone else, who saw it and at whom it was pointed, that this was a real firearm capable of shooting live ammunition.

"Those who use firearms and imitation firearms on our streets need to understand that this behaviour can never be tolerated and the sentences imposed will be deterrent sentences.

"Whilst in Albania, firearms may be more openly carried, they are not to be openly carried in the United Kingdom."

Elezaj, who must pay a victim surcharge, denied possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and affray, but was unanimously convicted by jurors after two hours' and two minutes' deliberating.

During his three-day trial, which began on Monday, jurors were told two gangs of up to eight people clashed in the street on October 7 last year.

Witness Richard Potton said he glanced out of his window after hearing a bang similar to a loud firework, spotting the gangs swinging a golf club and for sale signs.

One rival gang member threw themselves to the ground as Elezaj blasted the shots, while others hurriedly scattered, the court heard.

A knuckle duster was also used to knock Elezaj's friend unconscious during the feud, the jury of five men and seven women were told.

Thames Valley Police sealed off the street and neighbourhood policing teams increased their patrols after the incident.

Elezaj, of no fixed abode, took the stand to declare he only wanted to make rivals ‘go away’ when the brawl broke out, claiming he was acting in self defence.

Defence barrister Peter Du Feu told the court Elezaj faced 'adversity' in Albania, making his way across Europe to escape his homeland 'blighted by corruption'.

But the defendant, who had no previous convictions, wished to return home to be reunited with his parents and siblings, and would not be tempted to stay in the UK, the barrister added.