Gun-toting teenager avoids custody
A gun-toting 14-year-old who pointed the imitation weapon at a woman out walking her dog before taking it into a Black Country school has avoided custody because it was his first time before the courts.
A gun-toting 14-year-old who pointed the imitation weapon at a woman out walking her dog before taking it into a Black Country school has avoided custody because it was his first time before the courts.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will be given a 12-month referral order after the incident which shook his victim. Earlier he admitted possessing an imitation Glock 8mm firearm with intent to make the victim believe unlawful violence would be used against her.
Mrs Marion Bibb, prosecuting, told magistrates in Warley that at 7.50am on December 3 the victim was walking her dog near to an area of wasteland off Keyworth Close, Tipton, heading back towards home when she saw a group of four Asian youths in school uniform.
Mrs Bibb said she did not pay much attention to them, however, one of them came up to her and asked her in an aggressive manner for a cigarette to which she replied she did not smoke.
Mrs Bibb said: "He reached into his pocket with his right hand and produced what she could only describe as an orange handgun.
"She began to fear for her life and could physically feel that her heart was starting to beat faster."
The court heard the youth, who lives in Tipton, reached into his back pocket and removed the blanks, loaded the weapon and pointed the gun directly at her, before firing it into the air.
The court heard he then pointed the gun at her dog, before running off with his friends shouting "Taliban, Taliban, Taliban".
The matter was reported to the police who went to see the headteachers at his school, where the boy had been identified as a pupil because of his uniform.
"They informed them that there had been an incident during the day where this youth had been shooting towards three girls," added Mrs Bibb, who said the pupil had been expelled.
Presiding magistrate Mr Leslie Willetts, said: "We have come to the conclusion that we don't find a pattern of behaviour, therefore despite the seriousness of it we are not looking at it as a grave crime in the custody sense so you aren't going there."
He was given a 12 month referral order and advised to do something to make amends with the victim.
