A 14-year-old schoolboy has walked away from court despite admitting possession of two guns and live ammunition after a judge ruled he had "no power" to give him a detention sentence.
Judge Roger Chapple told the boy "parliament has tied my hands" and handed the teenager a youth rehabilitation order. Due to his age, the schoolboy cannot be classed as a "dangerous offender", meaning he avoided being detained, a paper reported on Thursday.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been found with a Russian military Tokarev TT-33, a Mini GAP and live ammunition at his house in Manor Park, East London. He was sentenced to a three-year rehabilitation programme after admitting two offences relating to firearms.
The judge told the Inner London Crown Court: "Guns kill people, that is what they are intended for.
"The courts generally take a very serious view of this sort of thing and mark it with long prison sentences. As it is, parliament has tied my hands. I have no power to send you to any form of detention."
The judge conceded in legal terms it was "impossible to come to the conclusion" the boy posed a danger to society.
James Burley, representing the defendant, argued the schoolboy had been "somewhat used" by other people.
The Ministry of Justice reportedly said sentencing guidelines are set by an independent body and the boy had not been found guilty of intending to use the firearms.