A DRIVER who continually rammed a Warwick man's car in a dangerous chase spanning more than 70km avoided jail at the Stanthorpe Magistrates Court yesterday.

Glenlyon grazier Andrew Philip McPherson, 55, was convicted and sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle after he used his white Land Cruiser to ram the vehicle of Lucas Riley, 27, from Springdale Rd on September 8 last year.

He also had his license suspended for six months and was ordered to pay restitution of $5000.

Arresting officer Stanthorpe Police Senior Constable Scott Armbruster said McPherson was having dinner with friends at a nearby property when he noticed a spotlight and heard a gunshot.

"A lot of them out (near Glenlyon) are quite frustrated with illegal shooters and the fact it takes (police) at least one hour to get out there," he said.

Snr Const Armbruster said after hearing the shots, McPherson jumped into his car and pursued Mr Riley.

He said McPherson claimed Mr Riley had been shooting "on or over his property".

Mr Riley said he wasn't shooting on McPherson's property, but shooting on property nearby with both a permit and permission from the property's owner.

He said he feared for his life during the hour long ordeal and couldn't believe the sentence handed down was so lenient.

"It's just the minimum and nothing else," he said.

"I thought he would stop after three or four times.

"But he just kept going."

Mr Riley said he drove towards Stanthorpe trying to phone 000 while McPherson followed him ramming his vehicle a number of times.

"He tried to push me off the road. I thought I was never going to see my wife and kids again," he said.

Mr Riley's father was equally as upset by the sentence and said he thought McPherson should have been charged with attempted murder.

"(Lucas) could have died," he said.

Snr Const Armbruster said Magistrate Graham Lee told the court he understood grazier's being frustrated with illegal shooting but people should not take matters into their own hands and put motorists' lives at risk.

Sentenced

Three months imprisonment wholly suspended for 12 months.

$5000 restitution

Disqualified from driving for 6 months