by Paul Hooper

A Dover teenager wept bitterly today after admitting he accidentally shot mate with a gun.

Antoine Anicotte, 18, injured pal Nicolas Culpan with Remington Texas revolver which had been bought legally in France.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that in Dover in January this year, Anicotte fired the weapon and the bullet hit 18-year-old Mr Culpan in the stomach before lodging near his spine.

Anicotte, of Salisbury Road, buried his head in his hands after admitting charges of unlawful wounding, possessing a firearm and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

His lawyer, Richard Jaffa told the judge the weapon had been bought by Anicotte's mother Catherine in France, where they are sold legally.

As the judge ordered background reports, Anicotte began crying before making a heart sign to his mother as she sat in the back of the court.

She blew him kisses as he was led away pending sentence in August.

The Judge Simon James warned him firing a weapon was a very serious matter and he faced a possible jail sentence.