A MASKED 18-year-old who drove to a high school and shot at pupils has today refused to apologise for his actions.Richard Lucas, who was told by a magistrate he was lucky to escape prison, then complained the incident cost him money in court expenses.

A MASKED 18-year-old who drove to a high school and shot at pupils has today refused to apologise for his actions.

Richard Lucas, who was told by a magistrate he was lucky to escape prison, then complained the incident cost him money in court expenses.

Lucas admitted firing a BB gun at Copleston High School pupils as they left school on March 1.

After the hearing, he said: "It was just a silly thing, something to kill the day because I was a bit bored.

"I did not intend to hurt them, I just randomly fired.

"Some of the girls were scared, but the rest saw the funny side of it.

"It cost me a bit of money actually."

South East Suffolk Magistrates heard how Lucas along with others sat in a car outside the school in Heath Lane shortly after 3pm.

David Taylor, prosecuting, said: "They were wearing face masks, which one 13-year-old girl described as having a funny face on them and brown hair around the edge.

"She thought about ten shots were fired."

Lucas, unemployed, who lives with his mother in Henslow Road, Ipswich, hit another female pupil in the upper leg with a pellet.

Mr Taylor added: "She said the pellet left a graze and a little reddening. She described the pain as that of similar to being stung by a nettle."

Charles Riddleston, mitigating, said: "The car was registered to Lucas so police went around straight away. He immediately told them it was a plastic gun."

A search of the car revealed the masks, gun and ammunition.

Mr Riddleston added: "He accepts what he did was wrong."

Jim Wyllie, presiding magistrate, said: "I have to say that you are very lucky that you are not going to prison for this offence which was very serious.

"You may have known it was a toy gun but others did not. Hopefully you have learnt your lesson."

Lucas was given 200 hours of community punishment work, made to pay £50 to two victims and £55 court costs.