A SCHOOLBOY almost blinded when he was shot with an airgun as he watched a rugby game has visited a police armoury to learn about gun safety from the experts.

Connor Minto was just 11-years-old when he was hit just above the left eye with an air pellet as he watched a match at Hermitage Academy school in his home town of Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

Police say he was lucky to avoid serious injury in the incident, which happened in November last year.

A 14-year-old boy later admitted firing the weapon which hit him and, as part of his punishment, was ordered by the court to attend a session at Durham Police’s armoury at force headquarters.

The Northern Echo: WARNING: Photographs of the air pellet lodged above Connor's eye will be used as a warning to others
WARNING: Photographs of the air pellet lodged above Connor's eye will be used as a warning to others

Now Connor has made a similar visit, designed to help both boys appreciate the dangers and consequences associated with misuse of an airgun.

Detective Constable Andy Froggatt, from Consett CID, said: “On the day of the incident our officers acted quickly resulting in three 14-year-old boys being arrested with two air rifles seized.

“Following this, one of the boys admitted to firing across the open football field, resulting in the pellet hitting Connor.

“He was charged with actual bodily harm and was ordered by the court to attend the airgun awareness intervention which is run by the force armourer."

He added: “In the hope that it may bring closure to his traumatic ordeal, we were glad to invite Connor and his family to Durham Police headquarters where he was shown around the force armoury and underwent the same intervention.

“Connor also agreed to have the photo of the pellet embedded in his head placed in the armoury for future interventions, as an example of what can happen if airguns are misused”.