A man arrested after gunshots were heard near a mosque in York has been found guilty of possessing a loaded air rifle in a public place. Ian Peart, 44, of Bellfarm Avenue, pleaded guilty at York Magistrates' Court to the charge. Prosecutors said that Peart's explanation for his actions "appears to have been accepted" by police. Peart claimed he was testing his air rifle with an infra-red scope while attempting to shoot rabbits in a car park and that he had missed his targets. Prosecutor Sarah Tyrer told the court that there was no evidence the case was motivated by anti-Muslim sentiment. She noted that Peart insisted he had "no intention to cause anyone any harm." The magistrates ruled that the mosque and its occupants were not his intended targets, stating that the fact he was near the mosque was irrelevant. They emphasized that there was "no suggestion" the mosque or its occupants were targeted and accepted that Peart's aim was to shoot rabbits. A witness reported hearing a loud noise outside the York Mosque early on July 30, describing it as "like a gunshot—something you would hear in the movies." The witness then saw a man in a car at the mosque’s gates, holding a gun through an open door. The gun had a barrel and a "telescope" on top, according to the witness. The person heard a second shot as they tried to take pictures and videos, fearing the man was shooting at the mosque. The witness saw the man drive off quickly, leaving the car door open. Peart was identified by police after the witness provided his vehicle registration number. Officers found ammunition in his home and a .22 air rifle in his car. However, the videos taken by the witness did not show any shots being fired. In a prepared statement, Peart told detectives he worked part-time in pest control and had been testing his air rifle. He said he had been shooting at rabbits in a car park but had missed. Peart was fined £317 and ordered to pay an additional £199 in costs and government surcharge. He was allowed to keep his air rifle, which he said was necessary for his work.