A BOY aged nine was behind a gun attack on a Southampton labourer as he sat in a city park, it emerged today.

And the culprit has escaped with a ticking off from police, who are powerless to bring any charges because he is under the age of criminal responsibility.

Three other children have been reprimanded for their part in the attack on 38-year-old Raymond Holbrook, who was hit with a pellet in Freemantle Lake Park last week.

Today police praised the children's parents for contacting them after reading about the incident in the Daily Echo.

Det Con Nigel Arkell, of Shirley CID, said the gun used in the attack had been a gas-powered pistol which would now be destroyed.

"All the parents, on seeing the article in the Echo, questioned their lads about the pistol and as a result notified the police," he said.

"This was a potentially very serious assault and we are grateful for their public-spirited actions.

"The victim is very pleased that we have caught everyone involved and that the gun will now be taken out of circulation."

Det Con Arkell, who led investigations into the attack, added: "This case highlights the need to educate people, especially young lads, about the dangers of air or gas-powered weapons if used irresponsibly."

All four children admitted their part in the attack and were dealt with by police at Shirley.

None of the boys can be identified for legal reasons, but all are understood to come from the Freemantle area. The main culprit, who actually fired the gun, was only nine and could not even be formally reprimanded by police.

Instead he was warned about his actions in front of his foster parents.

The other children, two aged 13 and one 12-year-old, were reprimanded for aiding and abetting the assault causing actual bodily harm.

Mr Holbrook, of Landguard Road, Shirley, called for airguns to be taken off the streets after being shot in the head as he sat on a park bench with a female friend.

The labourer needed four glue stitches at Southampton General Hospital after the attack, which happened last Tuesday.

He said: "I'm disgusted. Airguns are very dangerous. Sooner or later someone is going to get killed."