By Ashlie McAnally 

A CLYDEBANK thug shot a mum with paintball gun in front of her children as she walked the West Highland Way during a two-hour rampage.

Anthony Rasmussen blasted the 47-year-old woman during the shooting spree between Glasgow and Carbeth, last June 23.

The victim thought she was shot with an air rifle as Rasmussen fired six shots from the Audi car he was in, one hitting the mum on the hip.

Dad-of-two Rasmussen also injured a 59-year-old woman who was also walking on the same route. He shot her twice to the rib cage, on the elbow and side of her face.

He also fired paint at a 21-year-old man in Knightswood, two men aged 63 and 18 in Bearsden, and a 55-year-old woman in Clydebank. He also fired at a car in Carbeth.

Rasmussen, 24, pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court, to seven charges including shooting the mum in front of her children to her injury.

The court heard between 1.55pm and 4.10pm on June 23 Rasmussen travelled in an Audi car and shot at random members of the public with a paintball gun.

Procurator fiscal depute Lucy Adams said around 3.50pm the 55-year-old was on Duntocher Road, Clydebank, with her brother when she heard three loud bangs.

Ms Adams said: “On the third bang, the woman felt a pain on the right side of her head in her hairline.

“She put her hand up to her head where she felt a cold liquid which she initially thought was blood, but then observed it to be yellow paint.”

Around 4pm while the 59-year-old woman was walking the West Highland way with her husband she noticed a car coming towards them from the direction of Killearn.

Ms Adams said: “As the vehicle passed, the woman was struck three times on her left side, twice to the rib cage area and once to the left elbow.

“The vehicle continued and passed behind her and as she looked over her shoulder towards it, she was struck again to the right side of her face, next to her ear.

"This final shot caused her significant pain that she was immediately concerned that her eardrum had burst.”

She later described seeing “the barrel of a gun” before being shot for the final time.

The woman suffered bruising to her rib cage and the shots to her elbow and temple broke the skin and her head was treated with stitches.

Shortly after this, the 47-year-old mum was walking behind her husband on same route, with two of their three children when the Audi slowed down beside them.

She noticed the passenger window was open and as it passed her, Rasmussen pointed what she thought was an air rifle in the direction of her and her children.

Ms Adams added: “The vehicle then stopped and this male fired the gun approximately six times at them, one shot successfully struck the woman on her left hip.”

She screamed which alerted her husband and he noted the registration of the car, and contacted the police.

The court heard the 18-year-old apprentice builder was hit from behind and on his side when he was on a driveway in Bearsden.

He realised he what happened when he saw yellow paint on his side and back.

The 63-year-old pensioner was walking along the street alone when Rasmussen struck from a passing car.

A parked car in Queens View Car park in Carbeth was hit with “a number of shots” when the Audi drew up beside it.

The terrified driver put his head down when he thought Rasmussen had a gun, he then heard the Audi speed off.

Police were informed of the all of the incidents and inquiries carried out across CCTV.

The mum on the West Highland Way identified Rasmussen from a photo board and he was detained in July for questioning.

He made no comment to relevant questions, he was later arrested and cautioned and charged, and made no reply.

Solicitor advocate Billy Lavelle said: “It’s a serious offence, I don’t shy away from that. However, I am asking for Mr Rasmussen’s bail to be continued notwithstanding his pleas of guilty.”

He said Rasmussen looks after his two young children.

Sheriff Martin Jones QC deferred sentence for reports and continued bail but warned “in all likelihood he’s facing custody”.