Cole accidently shoots student

London - England fullback Ashley Cole shot and wounded a work-experience student with an air-rifle, according to reports in the News of the World on Sunday.

The incident is alleged to have happened at Chelsea's Cobham training-ground last Sunday.

Cole is said to have brought the .22 rifle, including muzzle and nightscope, to Cobham, something witnessed by a dozen members of staff.

Apparently unaware the rifle was loaded, he is reported to have aimed it at Tom Cowan, a 21-year-old sports science student from Loughborough University who was on a year's work experience at the club.

"It's truly inconceivable that a Premier League footballer could bring a gun to the training ground," the newspaper quoted an unnamed source as saying.

"But Ashley pulled the rifle from a box and started larking about with it in the changing room, not realising it was loaded. It ended up pointed at Tom just five feet away.

"The gun went off with a loud pop and Tom screamed as this lead pellet hit him in the side. It went through his clothing and into his flesh."

Cowan was treated by medics at the ground, but two days later the wound was still seeping.

Chelsea held a three-hour meeting with Cowan on Wednesday, and his father Ronald, a quantity surveyor, demanded further talks later in the week.

A .22 weapon is the largest that can be bought without a licence in Britain and shooting somebody with one could be deemed actual bodily harm under British law, bringing a maximum five-year prison term.

Cole is reported to have been given a severe dressing-down over the incident.

Chelsea are yet to comment.