Boys must pay £200 for shooting woman, 77, in head outside New Cross Hospital

The 77-year-old victim needed a minor operation to remove the pellet from her skull, Wolverhampton Youth Court heard.

The boys, aged 13 and 14, targeted the woman as she and her husband returned to their car after a visit to the eye clinic on December 13.

Mrs Kelly Fox, prosecuting, said a security guard was also struck in the chest and padded clothing protected him.

The 13-year-old admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and affray that put someone in fear of their personal safety.

He was given a 12-month referral order and ordered to pay £100 compensation.

His 14-year-old co-accused admitted the same charges and was handed a nine-month referral order and also ordered to pay £100 compensation.

The teenagers cannot be named for legal reasons and an application to lift reporting restrictions was denied. Mrs Fox said: "The victim was leaving the hospital when she was struck to the back of the head.

"She recoiled her hand from the back of her head and it was covered in blood. She went back to A&E and they in fact found a lodged pellet to the rear of her skull.

"While x-rays were taking place, her husband and a security guard went into the car park. It was at that point they heard a clicking sound a couple of times and took cover in a bus shelter.

"Two pellets hit the bus shelter and one hit the security guard's chest."

Mr Numann Haque, defending, told the hearing his clients pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and it was their first time in court. He said the 13-year-old had special needs and the boys had fired shots into the car park recklessly.

Chairman of the bench Mr Paul Clewley said: "Although we find this offence abhorrent, for both these young men it is their first time in court and we do not consider it in the interests of justice to lift reporting restrictions."

The bench also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the air rifle on Thursday.