Community service for teenager who shot boy in St James
A teenager who shot a 14-year-old boy in the face with an air weapon has avoided a custody and been ordered to pay £500 compensation to his victim.
Gary Blundred, 18, shot Ryan Wallens while they were fishing near Sharman Road in St James, Northampton.
The metal pellet is still lodged in Ryan's skull and may never be removed. Surgeons at the specialist Moorfields Eye Hospital in London decided it was dangerous to remove the pellet, as it was too close to the optical nerve.
Gavin Lyon, prosecuting at Northampton Crown Court, said Blundred fired the gas-powered weapon at Ryan while they were fishing on June 28.
He had the weapon with him to scare off wild fowl while fishing and he had fired it parallel to the bank, claiming Ryan had been obscured by trees and bushes.
Blundred, of Weedon Road, St James, who had no previous convictions, admitted wounding.
Judge Peter Morrell sentenced him to 162 hours of community service and ordered him to pay 500 in compensation and 90 in court costs.
Passing sentence, he said: "You are a fortunate young man. If the pellet had struck two inches to the right, the victim could have lost an eye."
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