FOLLOWING a ball-bearing gun attack at an Alton school on Thursday, December 13, a 15-year-old girl has admitted two counts of common assault.
The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before the youth court in Basingstoke last Wednesday, and admitted responsibility for the injuries suffered by her two victims.
The court heard how the girl had walked up to both of her victims with the weapon, which she had acquired from a male student, concealed in her jacket. After allegedly saying to each of her victims, ÒIÕve got a surprise for youÓ, she fired the gun twice injuring the first girl on the chest and the second girl on the left elbow.
Defence solicitor Stuart Western told the court that the defendant knew she had performed a Òvery stupid and careless actÓ, and she was Òvery remorsefulÓ about the incident.
Magistrates ordered that the girl undertake four hours of Òdirect or indirect reparationsÓ. Precisely what these reparations will involve, will be determined after discussions with the victims.
The court also required that the girl attend two Ôvictim awarenessÕ sessions, during which she will be shown the consequences of crime. The court did not order that costs or compensation be paid however, as magistrates decided that the girlÕs family would find the sum to be a financial hardship.
The girl, who has since been excluded from the school in question, is now studying for her forthcoming GCSEs and GNVQs at home, and it is not yet clear whether she will be allowed back into the school to sit her exams.