A MAN who shot a child in the face was told yesterday that he may face jail.

Edward Eeles, 19, was given the warning by Teesside magistrates after objecting to his sentence of 40 hours community work.

He told the bench he could not carry out the penalty because he had a full-time job and then he objected when his solicitor Jane Scott told him he could carry out the community work at weekends.

The chairman of the bench, David Tiplady, told Eeles that failure to comply with the order could result in imprisonment.

Mr Tiplady said: "The purpose of the sentence today is to punish you, to deter offending and make reparation.''

The court heard how the eight-year-old boy was shot half an inch below his right eye, while playing outside his Stockton home in May.

Eeles went voluntarily to the police station and told them he had been messing about.

Ms Scott said: "He was extremely upset and distressed. He does feel very guilty about what happened. He is extremely sorry for what happened.''

Ms Scott insisted Eeles had not taken deliberate aim at the child.

"It was purely an accident and nothing more,'' she insisted.

Eeles, of Appleton Road, Stockton, pleaded guilty to common assault on the eight-year-old and was ordered to pay £100 compensation and £40 costs.