A 16-year-old boy who held a BB gun to a nine-year-old girl's head and shot her in the face has been given a six-month rehabilitation order. The incident occurred in a wood near Richmond, North Yorkshire, in November 2011, when the teenager threatened the girl to steal her money and bike.
Teesside Crown Court heard that the teenager admitted possession of an imitation firearm and common assault. He had already served five months in a secure training centre and was also subject to a three-month curfew.
Prosecutor Victoria Lamballe described how the defendant threw the girl to the ground, pinned her down, and produced a BB gun. He put it against her head and told her not to scream or he would shoot. As she tried to grab her bag, he fired a pellet that struck her face, causing pain and leaving a red mark.
Judge Peter Armstrong said the offence warranted a 12-month detention sentence, but noted the defendant had made good progress while on remand and saw no reason for that not to continue in the community. Defence lawyer Rod Hunt acknowledged that the line between pranks and crimes was crossed, given the fear caused to the young girl.
