A SCHOOLBOY has admitted throwing a missile on to the Basingstoke ring road during rush hour “for laughs”.

Magistrates heard that the object, which police believe was a short plank, struck a lorry which was forced to pull over.

The 14-year-old from Basingstoke, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was described as having “many issues that need addressing” during the youth court hearing at which he was sentenced.

He admitted intentionally throwing an object on to the A339 Ringway North, from a bridge between Popley and Oakridge at around 6pm on Wednesday, June 27.

He said he did it “to get laughs” from the group of friends he was with and admitted to police he had run off without checking if anyone had been hurt or any vehicles had been damaged.

Ceri Harrison, prosecuting, said: “When he was questioned it was clear he knew precisely what he was doing.”

She said the truck driver had seen the 14-year-old with a group of friends on his side of the road on the bridge ahead and had spotted him with a large object in his hand.


She said: “He saw him throw it off the bridge just as he drove under.” She told the court the driver had to pull over to assess the damage. The item had hit the grille on the front of the vehicle, causing £800 in damage.
 

The court heard that the 14-year-old, who lives with his mother, had previously received a warning from police about an arson offence in 2010.
 

Isabel Hogg, defending, said the 14-year-old maintained that the item he had thrown was a stone rather than a plank. But whichever it was, they were equally dangerous, she added.
 

She said he had “plenty of issues with challenging behaviour” at his Basingstoke school.
Speaking to the justices sentencing him at Andover Magistrates’ Court, the boy said he was looking forward to a fresh start and had disassociated himself from his former group of friends. He said: “I’m not even talking to those kind of people.
 

“I’m sticking with the people I can trust that will keep me out of trouble.”
The teenager was given a nine-month referral order for the offence of throwing an object in a way which a reasonable person would consider to be dangerous. His referral is likely to include victim awareness sessions, a meeting with a current prisoner, and some sport.
 

Presiding magistrate Andrew Davies told him: “I do not want to see you in court again.”
 

After the sentencing, PC Dan Carter from the Basingstoke Safer Neighbourhoods team said: “Throwing rocks, stones or any items from a bridge on to a busy road is extremely dangerous and can have very serious consequences.
 

“People may think it’s just a prank, but this sort of antisocial behaviour can have devastating effects. If you see anyone throwing items from bridges or have any information, you can contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods team on 101.”