Man shot airgun pellets into boy's head to 'scare' youths throwing snowballs

Andrew Heeley, 42, said that his "blood boiled" after a group of youths tossed snowballs at his house and shouted abuse at his son on Christmas Eve.

He snapped, grabbing a gas-powered air pistol which he legally owned and firing it half-a-dozen times at a 16-year-old boy.

The terrified youngster was left bleeding and later had to have two pellets pulled out of his head at a friend's house.

An ambulance was called but because the incident was gun-related, they were unable to attend, and the stricken lad had to wait for police.

Mitigating at Wakefield Magistrates Court, Julie Allot said the group had been "making a nuisance of themselves" near Heeley's property in Portobello, Wakefield.

The annoyed resident confronted the boy on his doorstep and he denied pelting his house with snowballs

Later, Heeley's son challenged the youths but was met with "a barrage of abuse".

Heeley – who had been drinking – seized one of four guns he owned for shooting targets in his back garden.

Miss Allot added: "He picked up one of the handguns. He went outside and his intention was to fire the handgun to scare the youths away."

Heeley, of Rutland Avenue, Wakefield, claimed he had fired over the boy's head but said he was mortified when he found out the boy had been hit. He expressed remorse for what he had done.

Heeley admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He will be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court next month.