Youth admits gun crime

A mentally disturbed teenager who smuggled a shotgun into school but backed out of carrying out an indiscriminate mass shooting has been given a six-year custodial sentence.

Warwick Crown Court heard that the 15-yearold boy was “seconds away” from opening fire – after loading two cartridges into the gun and putting in ear defenders – but instead dialled 999.

The youth, who cannot be named, was arrested by police at Higham Lane School in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, in June after breaking up the weapon.