Craig Claridge, 14A TEENAGER has admitted shooting a schoolboy in the street in a drive-by attack.

A FAMILY of a 13-year-old boy have spoken of their relief after a Swindon man admitted the shooting of their son.

Simon Roberts, 19, has admitted seriously injuring Craig Claridge, 14, in a drive-by shooting.

Labourer Roberts pleaded guilty to possession of a .410 side-by-side shotgun with intent to endanger life, wounding with intent and possession of a firearm without valid certificate when he appeared before Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

Craig was seriously injured after he was shot by Roberts in Edinburgh Drive, Didcot, on Thursday, August 19.

The young victim was on the pavement when a car pulled alongside him and he was shot in the hip. He spent several weeks in hospital.

Judge Anthony King remanded Roberts, of Banwell Avenue, Swindon, in custody and warned him to expect a substantial sentence.

The court heard Roberts had no previous connections.

Defence barrister Colin McCarraher said that Roberts' actions were reckless and the incident was not the same as a case involving an armed robber.

He added: "The intent, therefore was not to go and directly shoot somebody, but what he did and the way in which it was done must result in a guilty plea.

"He wants to make and clean breast of it and he knows that a significant time in custody inevitably results."

Speaking after the court hearing, Craig's dad Dave Claridge, 36, of Dirac Place, Didcot, said: "Roberts has made the decision to plead guilty and we are more than pleased with that.

"Obviously, the sentence he will get will be down to the courts to decide."

Craig had to have two operations at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital following the shooting.

Mr Claridge, who works for Thames Water, said: "Craig is okay now, he is doing well, he is almost back to normal and is out and about most days.

"I think we were quite fortunate when you think about gun crimes."

The shooting highlighted prob-lems at the town centre trouble spot, and sparked councillors and police to come with measures to curb late-night incidents that had plagued residents.

Mr Claridge said: "I don't know what action can be taken. I like to think what happened to Craig was an isolated incident, but it was not nice to be on the receiving end of it.

"What can you do if people decide to around shooting other people? It is a difficult thing to police."

David Johnson, 20, of West View Crescent, Devizes, pleaded not guilty to a charge of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, one count of wounding with intent and a charge of possessing a firearm without a certificate.

The matter has been listed for trial, but a date has not been set.

Tina Clarke