Boy, 13, shot with air pistol

10:05am Friday 20th April 2001

TEENAGERS were threatened by older boys wielding air pistols who gave them ten seconds to run away before blasting one of them in the leg, a court heard.

Two 13-year-old boys were trying to put a chain back on their bike when the two older boys threatened them saying "I'll shoot you", after a dispute in Amersham on August 29.

A 16-year-old and a 15-year-old, both from Amersham, who could not be named, admitted possessing imitation firearms with intent to cause the two younger boys to believe violence would be used, at Aylesbury Crown Court on Tuesday.

The older defendant admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Both pleaded not guilty to attempted robbery and possessing imitation firearms at the time of the alleged incident and this was left to lie on the court file.

Kim Preston, prosecuting, said the victim shot in the leg managed to hobble away to join his friend and run to one of their homes. She said the boys had been approached by the defendants as they were fixing a bike chain and asked what they were doing. The 16-year-old rebuked the boys and said "don't talk to me like that or I'll shoot you".

She said the 16-year-old was alleged to have pointed an air pistol at them and demanded money. When the boys said they did not have any money, the 15-year-old produced a gun and gave it to his co-accused who told the boys they had ten seconds to try to get up the road "and then they would shoot".

Police later recovered two weapons and some pellets and the defendants admitted they had been carrying air pistols. Miss Preston said the 16-year-old told police he asked for money and threatened to shoot as a joke. He admitted pointing the gun but said he had not realised he had hit the boy.

The court heard how both accused were of previous good character and their sentencing was adjourned for three weeks for pre-sentence reports. They were bailed and Judge Daniel Rodwell QC said: "I want you clearly to understand that the fact you are being released on bail does not mean this court is making any promises to you as to what sort of sentence you will receive."

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