TWO youths who went on a drunken spree taking pot shots with an air rifle yesterday failed in a bid to have their sentences reduced.

Andrew Garthwaite and Jake Brown terrorised an area of Stanley, County Durham, for more than half-an-hour on May 3.

Durham Crown Court was told they took it in turns to fire and while most shots flew wide, or over people, one pellet, fired from close range and at high velocity, struck the face of a 15-year-old boy.

The court was told the pellet just missed his eye, lodging in a sinus, and had to be removed under general anaesthetic.

Kieran Rainey, prosecuting, said the victim has since had to return to hospital several times for further treatment.

Mr Rainey said one man getting out of his car on his return from work felt a pellet “whizz” over his head, while two shots were fired near a couple sitting in their conservatory as threatening shouts were made by the pair.

A strip light at Pappa’s chip shop was also dislodged by one shot fired through the door of the takeaway premises, in Hollyhill Gardens East.

Mr Rainey said it fell into prepared food, causing a total of more than £300 worth of damage.

Garthwaite, 16, of Coronation Avenue, Tow Law, and 17- year-old Brown, of Mitchell Street, South Moor, Stanley, admitted five joint offences, three of possessing an air rifle with intent to cause fear of violence, plus one each of assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage at a recent hearing before North Durham Youth Court.

They were both given 18- month detention and training orders.

Appealing on their behalf against the sentence, Tim Gittins told Durham Crown Court that the pair had now spent a month in custody, at Wetherby.

“They are some distance from home and it’s been a salutary lesson for them.

“The youth panel can’t be criticised for how they dealt with this spree of sporadic violence, with specific serious consequences for the unfortunate young man.

“It was fuelled by alcohol and with some degree of bravado, and, had they been older, anything other than a custodial sentence of some length could not have been justified.

“But, their young ages, lack of criminal record, their background, early guilty pleas, plus their remorse, can, perhaps, allow the court to step back from detention.”

Dismissing the appeal, Judge Peter Kelson, sitting with two magistrates, said: “This was a dreadful incident of two young men under the influence of alcohol for half to three-quarters-of-an-hour terrorising an area, causing serious injury to this young man.

“It must be punished and the deterrent must go out to other young people.”