But when a couple on the third floor told him to keep it down, lest he wake up those who were sleeping, Lockyer told the woman who was with him to "get the gun".

She retrieved a .45 calibre revolver from her nearby unit and handed it to Lockyer, who immediately pointed it at the window where the couple were standing and fired five shots.

It was an act of reckless disregard for public safety, but it could have been much worse. It could have been murder. Four bullets embedded in the wall around the open window and the fifth miraculously whizzed between the pair.

Lockyer, now 43, pleaded guilty to firing a firearm with reckless disregard for safety, aggravated break and enter, possessing a firearm in contravention of a firearm prohibition order and possession of an unauthorised pistol and on Friday in Newcastle District Court was jailed for a maximum of 10 years.

The Nomads member, who was represented by barrister Philip Massey and solicitor Chris O'Brien, gave evidence during a sentence hearing, telling Judge Roy Ellis that, due to his drug use, he didn't have much memory of the night of the shooting.

"The people that were affected should never have been put in that position," Lockyer said of the strangers he suddenly opened fire at.

"No one should be put in that position. I'm sorry."

Lockyer went to the Darby Street unit block about 2am on July 25 last year to find and confront a man who he had been arguing with over Facebook.

Armed with a baseball bat and wearing a balaclava and a Nomads long-sleeved shirt, Lockyer first ripped the screen door off a unit at 251 Darby Street before realising he had the wrong place.

It was while leaving that unit and walking through the common area of the complex that an irate Lockyer started loudly yelling in an attempt to lure out the man he was feuding with on Facebook.

Annoyed at being told to keep quiet, he fired the shots and fled. Judge Ellis ordered Lockyer be eligible for parole after six-and-a-half years.