A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to two years in a young offenders institution after a slingshot attack outside a fast-food restaurant left another man blind in one eye.
Confrontation Over Seagulls Turns Violent
The incident occurred in November 2024 outside a McDonald's branch in Morecambe, Lancashire. James Bower was seen pulling up in a white van and firing ball bearings from a catapult at seagulls. The court heard he claimed the birds would steal his food.
A 33-year-old man, who was outside the restaurant, confronted Bower, asking him: 'How would you like it if I did that to you?' This sparked an argument between the pair.
Deliberate Attack Causes Life-Changing Injury
During the altercation, the victim stood on a table. Bower then repeatedly fired the slingshot. One projectile smashed the restaurant window, while another struck the man directly in the eye.
Preston Crown Court was told that mobile phone footage captured Bower laughing in the aftermath. The victim has permanently lost the sight in his eye and is expected to undergo surgery to have it removed. He is currently unable to work and faces an uncertain future regarding his employment.
Sentencing and Mitigation
Bower, whose address was given as a traveller camp in North Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to section 20 wounding, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage. A pre-sentence report stated he took offence at comments the victim made about his heritage.
The court heard he had an unstable background, no real education, and did not anticipate the consequences of his actions.
Sentencing him, Recorder Emma Fisher said: 'You deliberately fired a projectile towards a person and that person has lost their sight and possibly their eye. One can only imagine how traumatic this has been for him.' She noted that despite mitigation, the severe impact meant only immediate custody was appropriate.
Throughout the hearing, Bower sat with his head in his hands as his aunt sobbed from the public gallery.
