A police officer who shot at his neighbours' houses in front of their children has been confronted by the victims in the Adelaide District Court.

It was told Clifford George Mayes, 46, got angry when a neighbour made a private arrangement to sell land to let another neighbour subdivide their property.

The court heard Mayes, who had been on leave from the police force due to psychiatric problems, threatened the neighbours with a gun and shot at both their houses in front of their young children, at Coromandel Valley in Adelaide last year.

During sentencing submissions, the victims gave statements to the court describing Mayes as a bully who always wanted to get his way.

Both neighbours said they had now sold and moved because their children were traumatised.

Mayes, who has now left the police force, will be sentenced next week.