A man who shot his wife while she lay in bed and then dumped her at hospital has been jailed for seven years.

One of the bullets went through the mattress of the bed where his 37-year-old wife, Georgina Vlahos, was lying at the time.

The bullet fractured her spine and ribs, leaving her with a permanent spinal disability.

After shooting his wife, Eljamal drove her to the hospital and told staff that he “found her like this”.

He then returned home to clean the house.

Eljamal pleaded guilty to causing grievous actual bodily harm and using a pistol while not authorised to do so on February 5.

Vlahos had forgiven her husband, but the injuries remained extremely serious.

“She will never walk again,” District Court Judge Sean Grant said on Friday.

“A message needs to be sent to the community that if you possess and use a firearm (unlawfully), you will be sent to jail for a long time.”

When police arrived to search the property the day after the incident, they found several bullet holes around the house.

Eljamal’s pistol was never found.

“It is disturbing that the firearm has not been recovered and remains in the community,” Grant said.

Eljamal had previously been convicted for supplying illicit drugs and had a longstanding substance abuse disorder, the court was told.

Since his arrest in February 2023, Eljamal has completed two stints in full-time rehabilitation therapy and spent time in custody.

Grant took his efforts to rehabilitate into account, but was unable to conclude he would not be before a court again.

He maintained Eljamal should not benefit from the injuries he inflicted by receiving a lesser sentence to care for his wife.

As a result of her spinal impairment, Vlahos requires assistance to complete daily tasks including showering and using the toilet.

But there were other people who had been, and could continue, providing her assistance, the judge said.

Eljamal was ordered to serve at least four years and three months in prison.

With backdating for time already served, Eljamal will be eligible for parole in April 2028.