A TEENAGER has been locked up by a judge after he was “slated” on Facebook for recklessly firing a BB gun from a moving car.

Pedestrian Michelle Pullich had been walking along Braithwaite Avenue, Keighley, in June when she was struck on the hand by a pellet which had been fired by teenager Bradley Townson from a passing Volkswagen Polo car.

Prosecutor Andrew Stranex told Bradford Crown Court that witnesses heard a “cracking sound” as the Polo drove by and when the complainant looked down she saw a mark on her hand. A small plastic BB gun pellet was fell from her clothing.

“As is common these days matters were put on Facebook regarding the incident and the defendant found out what was being said had happened from Facebook,” said Mr Stranex.

When he was questioned by police Townson, of Braithwaite Crescent, Keighley, said he had found the BB gun and described it as the kind of thing you could buy at Poundland.

Mr Stranex said the teenager accepted firing it four or five times.

“He accepted he hadn’t thought through what he was doing as he was being driven round Keighley,” said Mr Stranex.

Townson, 19, pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault in relation to the firing of the BB gun and it was revealed in court that only three days before the offence he had been given a seven-month suspended sentence at Carlisle Crown Court for affray and assaulting a police officer.

Barrister Nicholas Askins, for Townson, highlighted the fact that when his client was interviewed by police he told them that he was disgusted with himself.

“I’ve got my name slated all over Facebook which I deserved to...I shouldn’t have done it at all,” Townson was said to have told police.

Judge David Hatton QC said he accepted that Townson had not deliberately targeted his victim, but it had been a reckless act. He sentenced Townson to two months in a young offenders institution for the common assault offence, but added the seven months for suspended sentence resulting in a total custodial term of nine months.

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