"Sorry I shot that 12-year-old boy in the head. I was actually aiming for the pigeons"

UNITED KINGDOM -- JOBLESS Lewis Ball shot a 12-year-old boy in the head after firing an air gun in one of Stoke-on-Trent's biggest parks.

The 21-year-old was shooting pigeons when he hit the schoolboy with a pellet at Tunstall Park.

Magistrates have warned Ball that the youngster could have been blinded in the incident.

POS kills animals when he's 'bored'

They have banned Ball from having any kind of firearm for three years and ordered him to pay £100 compensation to his victim.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the defendant bought the 0.22 calibre air rifle at a Hanley shop and took it to the park to shoot at birds 'because he was bored'.

But Ball claimed one of his shots went astray after being 'caught in the wind' and hit the boy behind his right ear.

Ball was later arrested and admitted possessing an air weapon in a public place and assault.

Rachel Mason, representing the defendant, said: "He thought this weapon could be fired in any open space.

"It was a very unfortunate accident and he should have realised what he was doing. After the incident the defendant could have walked away as he was some 100 metres away, but he immediately went over to the young boy to try to assist him."

The court heard Ball, of Westbourne Drive, Tunstall, had now got rid of the gun and was trying to get a job.

Magistrates also handed Ball a 12-month community order with supervision and ordered him to complete 100 hours unpaid work. The defendant must also pay £85 costs.

Magistrate Paul Findley told Ball: "You are very lucky. If your shot had been three inches to the right you would have been looking at five years in prison and a blinded victim.

"Firing air guns at pigeons is not acceptable and hitting young children accidentally is not acceptable. You should not be firing any kind of implement in a public place."

Volunteers trying to improve the park have been left shocked by the August 17 incident.

Joy Garner, of Greenbank Road, Tunstall, who is a member of the management committee at Tunstall Floral Hall within the park, said: "This was totally irresponsible. I'm shocked that somebody thought it was normal to go into a public place and shoot at our wildlife.

"An air rifle can be a lethal weapon – it could've taken out the lad's eye or hit him on the temple and killed him.

"You should not be able to have an air rifle without some kind of certificate."

(stokesentinel.co.uk - Nov 13, 2013)