Elgin victim was shot in the head during Moray teenager’s air rifle spree

A 16-year-old boy who went on a shooting spree with a gas-powered air-rifle hit a man in the head with a ball-bearing.

The teenager fired several volleys at nearby properties on Millar Street in Elgin over the course of two hours on November 4 last year.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told that the police were initially alerted after the shooting began at 8pm.

Officers initially found nothing but returned later when it started up again and a man, who had exited his house to see what was going on, was hit on the head.

The court heard that a ball-bearing lodged in the man’s scalp and surgery was later required to remove it.

Fiscal depute Emily Hood said: "Officers returned to the scene to carry out further enquiries when they heard multiple ‘pops’ at about 10.35pm.

“A firearms incident was declared. Members of the public were removed from the area and armed officers were dispatched. A total of 44 shots were fired in a 13-minute period."

The prosecutor added that multiple shots had hit another house, forcing a child to be removed from a bedroom for its own safety.

The court heard that the teenager, who is now aged 17 but still cannot be named for legal reasons, refused at first to give up after being traced.

However, following a period of negotiation, he surrendered his weapon and was arrested.

Ms Hood described the rifle as a bolt action gun with telescopic sights, capable of firing 5.5mm ball bearings.

Defence solicitor Stephen Carty persuaded the court to grant his client bail as he was engaging well with social workers.

The teenager pleaded guilty to endangering people by the culpable and reckless discharge of a weapon. He also admitted a charge of assault.

Sheriff Sara Matheson said that "with some reluctance" she would allow the youth's bail to continue until his next appearance on November 25.

But she warned him: "You should read nothing into that in terms of the final disposal."