When he appeared at Folkestone Youth Court on June 10, he pleaded guilty to killing a wild bird, common assault, possession of an offensive weapon, two counts of criminal damage, destroying property, and breaching a community protection notice.
Then, magistrates heard his offending began on February 20, when he targeted James Perowne – a 33-year-old disabled man – in Simons Avenue, Ashford.
Video footage showed the youth and his friends mocking Mr Perowne’s walk, before surrounding and attacking him.
He was struck in the lower back by a shot from the catapult, which “felt like a brick hitting him”, before the teenager approached and began punching him while he was on the floor.
Before running off, the boy reportedly told Mr Perowne: “I should have popped your nose.”
The court heard Mr Perowne suffered bruising to his back and arm and swelling to his head.
Just two days after the catapult assault, on February 22, the teen killed a seagull using the weapon, holding it aloft “like a trophy” while a friend took photos.
When arrested on February 24, the boy caused further disruption at Folkestone police station, throwing a microwave meal at the walls of his cell, which then had to be deep-cleaned.
He was issued with a community protection notice prohibiting him from being in public in groups of two or more.
Despite this, on March 21, he was among a group of 30 youths in Ashford when he vandalised a homeowner’s bin shed, ripping off wooden panels.
Then, on May 7, he tampered with a CCTV system outside the home of Deepak Ray. He pulled out a wire and repositioned a camera to avoid being seen, causing £249 of damage.
The teen returned to the same court to be sentenced on Tuesday, where magistrates heard he had been prescribed medication that helped moderate his behaviour.
Alan Land, defending, said his client showed remorse and realised his actions were completely inappropriate.
Laurence Gallagher, chairman of the bench, told the boy: “The last time in court, you were sorry for what you did and you have some understanding of the consequences.
“But you don’t seem to understand that the medication provided helps you make the right decisions.
“You have been doing plain stupid things and unkind things.”
The teen, who has no previous convictions, was given a nine-month referral order and ordered to pay a total of £200 in compensation to victims of his crimes.
A referral order is a way of dealing with young people aged between 10 and 17 who have appeared in court for the first time and pleaded guilty.
The aim is to prevent re-offending by making sure that the young person is made aware of the impact and consequences of their crimes.
