A Judge has slammed a man for leaving children alone with a loaded rifle - saying the stupid behaviour could have set the kids up for a lifetime of grief

Aaron Grant Pickering has been fined and sentenced to community work, after admitting unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful hunting.

Open Justice reports the 50-year-old, who had earlier had his firearms license revoked, left the 10 and 15 year old boys alone on a beach in the Marlborough Sounds, while he went drinking and fishing.

Judge Tony Snell says the younger boy had fired the gun, attempting to shoot a pig.

He described it as a recipe for disaster, which could have had devastating consequences .