Teen pleads guilty to airgun stunts

A teenager whose airgun antics triggered a lock-down at Mairehau High School and a two-hour police cordon in suburban Christchurch has been ordered to do a "last chance" 170-hour community work sentence.

Barry Charles Drummond, 18, today in Christchurch District Court admitted disorderly behaviour causing a threat of violence, breach of community work, discharging a firearm, and failing to answer bail.

The probation report said Drummond was at less-than-medium risk of re-offending, he had strong family support and was remorseful.

Defence counsel Vanessa Sugrue said Drummond was thoughtlessly playing with the firearm, and a neighbour rang the police.

Judge John Strettell said Drummond had a pattern of inability and unwillingness to comply with community-based sentences, but had no record for serious offending.

"In the end, you write your own sentence and you will go to prison if you don't do the community work," he told Drummond.

He said it was time for Drummond to get back on track, and it was his last opportunity.

Police said at the time that no one was hurt in the incident in early July and there was no danger to the public.

- NZPA