Iain Boddy was part of a group that fired a suspected pump-action shotgun and hurled three petrol bombs at the Burnhope property on Friday, December 5 last year.
People were inside the Front Street house, but no-one was injured, Durham Crown Court heard.
But no-one from the property agreed to help prosecutors, the court heard.
Iain Boddy, 44, jailed for 15 years for his part in a targeted shooting and petrol bombing of a house in Burnhope, County Durham
Boddy, 44, of Moule Crescent, Auckland Park, Bishop Auckland, denied possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and arson with intent to endanger life at his trial this week.
He was found guilty of both charges on the fourth day of the trial, today, (Thursday, September 10), and sentenced later in the day by Judge Richard Clews.
Boddy was cleared of trying to set fire to a property in Broom Hill, Stanley, with intent to endanger life, on Christmas Day last year.
Prosecutor Andrew Petterson said firing at a home and trying to set it alight created a high risk of serious injury and disorder.
Mr Petterson quoted senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Neil Fuller, who said the attack appeared to be part of a campaign against a particular person and his “associates”.
Boddy has previous convictions on his record, but none for violence in recent years.
He has one conviction for possessing an offensive weapon, but that was more than 20 years ago.
In 2021, Boddy received an immediate 22-month sentence after admitting he had dishonestly received a stolen caravan while subject to a suspended sentence for an earlier caravan theft.
The judge quoted DCI Fuller’s statement, which listed further arson and damage offences, attacks on premises or vehicles, two other shootings and an attempted murder.
Mr Petterson said the early-December attack appeared to have been carefully planned.
in mitigation, Calum McNicholas, for Boddy, said there was no evidence the defendant was involved in the other incidents referenced by the police.
Mr McNicholas said Boddy’s arson and firearm convictions arose from the same incident.
He added that while Boddy had offended before, “there is nothing on his record that comes anywhere as near in seriousness of the offences for which he’s here for today, and not really a single offence of violence”.
Judge Clews said Boddy was part of a group that targeted the Front Street property, firing a gun seven times and throwing three petrol bombs at it.
“Happily, there were no serious eventual consequences, but as the jury found, it was intended to endanger life.
“It’s apparent you knew exactly why you were going there.
“Exactly what role you took can’t be ascertained.
“But it was a joint enterprise of which you were fully aware.
“It turns out it was part of a campaign of intimidation to a person known to police and associates of his.
“It was occupied by an associate of that person.”
But the judge said he was sentencing Boddy only for this incident, not the other attacks police were investigating against the apparent target.
Boddy must serve up to two-thirds of his 15-year sentence in prison before being released on licence.
Durham Police said officers were called to the Burnhope address at about 5.15pm on Friday, December 5 last year, after reports of gunfire.
In a statement issued after the hearing the force said: “Glass bottles containing petrol were also thrown at the house and as a result a fire started in the garden of the property, but it was quickly extinguished.
“Thankfully, no-one was injured.
“An investigation was launched and Iain Boddy was identified as a suspect.
“He was subsequently arrested and charged with a number of offences, which he denied.
“The wick of the petrol bomb was found to contain the DNA of Boddy, of Bishop Auckland.
“Glass bottles, similar to those that were used to make the petrol bombs, were also found at the 44-year-old’s place of work.
“A jury at Durham Crown Court today unanimously found Boddy guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and arson with intent to endanger life.
“He was found not guilty of attempted arson with intent to endanger life in relation to an incident at an address in Broom Hill, Stanley, on Christmas Day.”
Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Hannah Wilson, of Durham Police, said: “The attack in Burnhope was deliberate and terrifying for residents.
“It could easily have ended in tragedy.
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“This level of violence will not be tolerated in County Durham, and we will work relentlessly with partners and communities to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks across the county.
“I would like to thank the community for their support, and the assistance of partner agencies throughout our investigation.”
She urged anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.