A 14-YEAR-OLD boy could be blinded in one eye after being shot by an older teenager with an air-rifle.

The youngster was playing with his brothers in a skate park when Bradley Pullen, 16, of Tavistock, opened fire, shooting through a wire mesh fence. The .177 lead pellet ripped into his left eye, detaching the retina and lodging in the young boy's eye-socket.

Prosecutor David Gittins said surgeons were unable to remove the slug because it was so close to the optic nerve, and it may have to remain in his eye for life.

He said: 'The gun was of limited power but caused catastrophic injury.'

The injured boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will undergo an operation on November 18 to attempt to repair the damage and re-attach the retina. The next day, Pullen will reappear in court to be sentenced.

Pullen on?Monday pleaded not guilty to wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm on May 16. However, he pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and possessing a firearm at the time of committing an offence, both on the same date.

Mr Gittins said Pullen had been before the juvenile court with previous offences including shoplifting, disorderly conduct, twice taking cars without consent, burglary and arson. At the time of the shooting he was on bail.

Judge Francis Gilbert QC granted Pullen conditional bail, with an 8pm to 6am tagged curfew, seven days a week so he can continue his college course. But he warned him: 'You are at grave risk of immediate custody.'