A NEWPORT teenager who endured years of bullying snapped and shot his schoolgirl tormentor in the neck with an air rifle, magistrates were told. The 15-year-old, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty at Cwmbran youth court to wounding with intent.

Prosecutor Eifion Williams told magistrates that the boy returned home on June 19 after being out with friends. He was upset and covered with egg after being attacked by a girl who regularly bullied him.

Angered, his mother went to find the group and confront them about the incident, magistrates were told.

She had a heated argument with the girl, Mr Williams said, and during the row someone shouted out: "Oh God he's ******* shot her!" The mother noticed the girl was bleeding badly from the neck, and then realised her son had seen the argument, became annoyed and shot the girl with his air rifle.

The victim was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital, where she had an operation to remove the pellet from her neck, Mr Williams said. The boy's mother called the police and when he was arrested he asked Police Constable David James: "Is the pellet still in her neck?"

When PC James replied "Yes", the boy said "good". David Coles, defending, said that despite the provocation and mitigation in the case, the boy's parents took the attack very seriously. His mother gave evidence against her son to the prosecution.

The court was told the boy was well-liked in his community, and seven character references were supplied to the magistrates. He fully admitted the attack and felt remorse for his actions.

Mr Coles added: "He was subjected to substantial and vindictive bullying for a number of years. The year before he was put in hospital after an attack on him, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back."

The boy's father told the court: "We are deeply, deeply upset at what happened and we can't understand why he has done it."

The airgun, which the boy used at a local shooting club, was destroyed at his parents' request.

The boy was sentenced to a 12-month referral order and ordered to pay £700 to the girl he shot.