A TOP Warrington police officer has praised the public for helping to bring a 'violent bully' to justice, after a youth was left with air pistol pellets embedded in his head.

A 16-year-old boy from Culcheth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, fired six shots at another 16-year-old on September 23 last year, on Culcheth's village green.

He was due to stand trial last week at Warrington Crown Court but pleaded guilty to an offence of wounding before proceedings started.

Det Ch Insp Richard Strachan called the attack "a nasty incident" - saying that it had the potential to be a lot more serious - but thanked witnesses for their cooperation.

The offender approached the victim, pointed a gun at his head and demanded money. He was left with four pellets embedded in his head but managed to remove three.

He was rushed to Warrington Hospital and was treated for puncture wounds to his neck and head.

The 16-year-old also pleaded guilty, along with 21-year-old Seamus Patterson, of Moss Side Lane, Rixton, to a public order offence during a violent disturbance in Culcheth on July 7 last year.

DCI Strachan told the Guardian: "I want to thank the witnesses who helped the police. In doing so, they did the community of Culcheth a great service in bringing a violent bully to justice."

The teenager will appear at Warrington Crown Court later this month for sentencing.