The mother of schoolboy Richard Bryant - shot in the head while playing war games with friends - may take civil action against the teenager who pulled the trigger.

Mandy Bryant is upset that police have decided to take no action against the 14-year-old boy.

Miss Bryant said yesterday: "We have taken advice from a solicitor and will see what Richard's condition is in around six months time.

"The boy responsible for doing this should have got his just desserts and we may take civil action of our own."

Richard, 13, a pupil at Colbayns High School in Clacton, was hit with a pellet from an air rifle and spent 3 weeks in a coma.

He is back home but has severe behavioural problems, memory loss and difficulty with his sight.

A group of boys had been playing on open land close to Richard's home in Tudor Green, Jaywick, when the accident happened on the last day of the school Christmas holidays.

He came within a whisker of death when the pellet passed from one side of his head to the other - just missing the brain stem.

Miss Bryant said her son's character had changed totally. He continually spits and is aggressive towards younger brother, Ronnie, 11.

Fighting back the tears at a press conference at Clacton Police Station yesterday, she said the incident had changed her family's lives.

"I would not want what has happened to us to happen to any other family," she said. "Please don't let children play around with air rifles. It is a stupid toy and can be a lethal weapon."

She revealed the teenager responsible had sent her a hand-written apology, but had not been to see her.

Det Insp Len Jarman said that from interviews with the boys it had been decided it was a "tragic accident" and police had decided not to pursue criminal charges.

He said all the boys had been playing what they descibed as war games and each had taken a turn with the rifle.

They had been trying to run between two points on the site without one of the others shooting them.

"I have spoken with all the boys and it is fair to say that all those on the field that day were breaking the law," he said.

"The boys concerned have been told off and warned and the one responsible is very remorseful over what happened to Richard."

Considering her next move - Mandy Bryant

Picture: NIGEL BROWN

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