Teenagers who shot woman in head escape custodial sentence

Nov 6 2008 by Andrew Hirst, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TWO teenagers who shot a woman in the head with an airgun have narrowly escaped custody.

Ashley Matthews and John Moorhouse both admitted assault after 42-year-old mum Elizabeth Cornell was hit by an airgun pellet in Waterloo.

And it can be revealed today that Examiner readers gave the investigation a vital breakthrough by naming the suspects at the time.

Matthews, 19, of Woodedge Avenue, Dalton, and 18-year-old Moorhouse, of Rowlands Avenue, Dalton, were sentenced when they appeared before Bradford Crown Court.

Matthews was ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work with a supervision order that he must attend a programme to change offending behaviour.

Moorhouse was ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work and given a two-month compensation order.

Both must each pay Mrs Cornell £250 compensation for her injuries and ordeal.