Teenager fired rocket at shops in Tang Hall (From York Press)

Teenager fired rocket at shops in Tang Hall

10:36am Friday 1st January 2010

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A TEENAGER who fired a rocket at a row of shops in York will learn his punishment for his dangerous prank on Tuesday.

The 15-year-old boy held the lit firework in his hands before shooting it across Burlington Avenue in Tang Hall while two police community support officers watched, Martin Butterworth, prosecuting said. “He appeared to be deliberately aiming it towards the shops on the other side of the road,” he said.

“Almost immediately he discharged the rocket. It travelled across the road and hit a sign above a mini market. It exploded into sparks on impact.”

As it did so, the boy and two of his friends leapt up and down on the driveway of a house opposite the shops from which he had fired the rocket.

“He was unaware of the two officers,” said Mr Butterworth. “When they did see them, the other two rode off on their bicycles.”

York youth justices wanted to deal with the boy immediately, but couldn’t because his mother had not come with him to court. The boy said she was at work and came with her friend. They adjourned the case until Tuesday when both must attend.

The 15-year-old from east York pleaded guilty to firing a firework into a road on November 5, contrary to the Explosives Act 1875.

Police had previously given him a reprimand and a final warning for vandalism offences. Because it was his first time before a court, the only sentence he can receive for the fireworks incident is a referral order of up to 12 months. He cannot be named for legal reasons.

Youth Offending Team officer Ian Whittaker told the court the boy’s action could have injured a pedestrian or damaged a car if they had been passing when the rocket was fired.

For the boy, Harry Bayman said: “We are talking about foolish and immature behaviour on Fireworks Night. It is a thoughtless incident rather than anything worse.”

No one had been injured, apart from the boy who burned his hand, and the sign had not been significantly damaged. The rocket had been designed for being lit when it was standing on the ground, not for being lit in someone’s hand. He had intended to fire it upwards, but due to his burned hand, the rocket had gone sideways, the court heard.

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