A man who killed his friend with a shotgun in an attempt to test a bullet-proof vest has been jailed for seven years.

Ian Catley, a lorry driver, fired the gun at his friend, Philip Harper in a field near Melbourn in Cambridgeshire on 29 June, last year, where he was killed almost instantly.

Mr Harper had bought what was described as a protective vest from a military surplus store, mistakenly thinking that it was bullet-proof. He was “very keen” to try out his new piece of kit, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Judge Jeffrey Pegden, QC said that Mr Harper had been shot at a distance of just 20ft, which led to catastrophic injuries and almost immediate death.

After purchasing the equipment from Rugby Trading International Ltd, Mr Harper initially asked another friend to shoot him, to test the vest, but was refused.

Mark McDonald, Catley’s defence barrister, said that his client’s friend was very proud of his vest. “He'd gone to the pub that evening wearing that vest and indeed a SWAT cap,” the barrister said.

“After a drink or so, he asked more people, and Mr Catley agreed to do a stupid and undoubtedly reckless act.”

Ian Catley shot his friend dead in a 'reckless act' (PA)

Mr Harper was taken straight to hospital but nothing could be done to save his life. Sentencing, the judge said to Catley: “Your remorse is complete and genuine.

“You recognise the magnitude of your actions and I have no doubt that the effects of killing your good friend will last with you for the rest of your life.”

But he added that Catley, 40, as a gun licence-holder, had “manifestly breached those obligations and duties”. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in November last year.

In the dock the accused, who was a close friend of Mr Harper stared ahead, while his mother, in the public gallery, struggled to hold back tears.

The prosecutor, Martin Mulgrew, said that the vest had actually compounded the injury, as it had a plastic casing that funnelled the shotgun spray into the centre of Mr Harper’s chest, severing an artery.

Catley attempted to save his friend, “but it was clear to the paramedics at first sight that there was very little that could be done to save Mr Harper's life,” the prosecutor said.

Mr Mulgrew said Catley had initially claimed he had been aiming for a pigeon and hit his friend by accident, but quickly told the truth.

The judge ordered that Catley’s gun be forfeited and destroyed and said that he would serve up to half of his sentence.

Detective Inspector Ian Simmons, of Cambridgeshire Police, said: “This is a particularly sad case, where a foolish incident ended in tragedy.

"These second-hand protective vests should not be relied on whatsoever to protect you from gunshot and I'm urging people to take this as a warning.

“Our deepest sympathies are with Mr Harper's family and friends at this time.”