A TEENAGE motorist who fired a ball-bearing pellet gun during a road-rage incident was spared jail yesterday.

Adam Lee Bone received a community court order on the basis he seeks medical help for his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Bone, 18, of Railway Cottages, Lake Bank Terrace, Station Town, east Durham, admitted possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

It arose from a minor collision involving his Vauxhall Corsa and a Peugeot 106, near a fast food restaurant car park exit in Surtees Road, Peterlee, County Durham, on May 26, last year.

Durham Crown Court was told that Bone and the 19-year-old Peugeot driver pulled up and exchanged words.

Bone, then 17, produced a black imitation handgun and fired it three times, just missing the other driver’s girlfriend.

He simulated a firing action at the startled young woman as he returned to his car and drove away.

Police found three plastic pellets nearby and, when arrested, Bone told officers he discarded the “toy”

weapon.

Ron Mitchell, in mitigation, said Bone had a history of mental health difficulties and that he acted as he had because he had been scared.

Mr Mitchell said: “It looks like a gun and would have been frightening, but this could not have done anyone any harm.”

Judge Christopher Prince pointed out, however, that the pellets could have blinded someone if they had hit an eye.

Having read reports on Bone, Judge Prince yesterday told him: “This must have been a terrifying experience for those people involved.

“But, I am satisfied that you have since slowly come to realise what you have done and that you understand the effects on other people of your actions. Anyone producing an imitation, albeit one which looked like a real weapon, and aims it in public must expect custody.

“However, there are exceptional circumstances in your case.

“You have fine support from your family and you are making efforts at college.

“The indications are that you will get good qualifications to provide you with a good future.

“All that would be lost if I were to send you straight to custody, and, in the interests of justice, the public would be put more at risk if you emerged largely untreated from prison.”

He imposed a 12-month community supervision order.