A TEENAGER has been locked up by a judge after he was "slated" on Facebook for recklessly firing a BB gun from a moving car in Keighley.

Pedestrian Michelle Pullich had been walking along Braithwaite Avenue in June when she was struck on the hand by a pellet which had been fired by teenager Bradley Townson from a passing Volkswagen Polo.

Prosecutor Andrew Stranex told Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday that witnesses heard a "cracking sound" as the vehicle drove by and when the complainant looked down she saw a mark on her hand.

A small plastic BB gun pellet was also seen to fall from her clothing.

"As is common these days matters were put on Facebook regarding the incident and the defendant found out what was being said had happened from Facebook," said Mr Stranex.

"As a result of that the matter, and in particular the defendant, became known to the police."

When he was questioned by police Townson, of Braithwaite Crescent, Keighley, said he had found the BB gun.

Mr Stranex said the teenager accepted firing it four or five times.

"He accepted he hadn't thought through what he was doing as he was being driven round Keighley," said Mr Stranex.

"It appears that the publicity he received through Facebook had caused him some distress and he was disgusted with himself for what he appeared to have done."

Townson, 19, pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault in relation to the firing of the BB gun and it was revealed in court that only three days before the offence he had been made the subject of a seven-month suspended sentence at Carlisle Crown Court for affray and assaulting a police officer.

Barrister Nicholas Askins, for Townson, highlighted the fact that when his client was interviewed by police he told them that he was disgusted with himself.

"I've got my name slated all over Facebook which I deserved to. I shouldn't have done it at all," Townson was said to have told police.

Mr Askins said it was not a case of Townson deliberately aiming at the complainant, but he conceded that his client had recklessly discharged the pellet gun from a moving vehicle that afternoon with unfortunate consequences.

Judge David Hatton QC said he accepted that Townson had not deliberately targeted his victim, but it had been a reckless act in a public place.

The judge said the case was also aggravated by the fact that it happened just three days after the imposition of the suspended sentence of imprisonment.

Judge Hatton sentenced Townson to two months in a young offenders institution for the common assault offence, but added the seven months for suspended sentence resulting in a total custodial term of nine months.