A SOLDIER preparing to leave for a war zone was left in agony after being shot five times by an airgun in Weymouth.

The weapon used was so powerful that one of the pellets went deep into the man's leg, missing an artery by inches.

The 23-year-old is now hoping there is no lasting nerve damage and he can be declared fit for duty and go to Iraq next month.

His ordeal is an example of one of the shootings that are being investigated by police in Weymouth.

Police are probing reports of an air weapon being used to shoot three young people at The Marsh and pellets damaging property at Wyke Regis. A man has also been charged at Littlemoor with using a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Police stress the shootings are isolated and not linked to one 'sniper'.

But the mother of the soldier, who did not want to be named, said she feared for the safety of others.

Her son, who is serving with the Royal Engineers, was shot on the Rodwell Trail below Wyke Road.

She said: "The pellets went through his jeans and embedded in his upper thigh or buttocks.

"His friend had to carry him to the road where I picked them up.

"My son was in immense pain and there was a lot of blood."

She said her son underwent surgery at Dorset County Hospital where doctors removed a pellet which had just missed an artery and the sciatic nerve.

Four pellets remain embedded but are not thought to pose any risk.

After recovering at his Westham home, the man returned to his barracks in Scotland but can only carry out light duties.

His mother said: "He is distraught.

"He has to go back to hospital soon to see if there is permanent nerve damage. He is due to go to Basra at the end of October but might be signed off.

"He is also a keen footballer and worries he might not be able to play again."

She added: "There is someone or some gang out there randomly shooting people with a powerful weapon.

"If the shot had been a little higher my son would be unable to work or even be wheelchair bound.

"If a young child gets hit it could be fatal.

"When are the police going to address this matter?"

Sergeant Tony Smith said: "I don't want people to panic because they think there is a person out there with a gun picking people out. As far as I know we are investigating isolated incidents."

He added: "We will not tolerate air weapons and BB guns being used in this manner.

"We will seize guns being used irresponsibly and seek to prosecute people who have committed offences.

"People can shoot tin cans in their garden but it must be in the confines of the garden.

"Using a gun in public without permission is illegal and people who do so run the risk of being confronted by armed officers."