A TEENAGE yob has admitted hurling a huge seat from the top floor of a Westfield towards shoppers below.
The boy, a 15-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, was seen in a viral video throwing the 15kg chair from the top floor of the popular shopping centre.
X/SnapchatHorror footage shows a youth chucking furniture from the top floor of Westfield[/caption]
X/SnapchatThe yob launches a heavy seat over the railings[/caption]
X/SnapchatThe seat lands inches from stunned shoppers[/caption]
Appearing at Stratford Magistrates’ Court today, the youth admitted criminal damage and recklessly causing a public nuisance.
At the time of his arrest, he told police “it’s not that deep” and the dangerous stunt had been part of an internet prank.
He was arrested alongside another 15-year-old boy who allegedly filmed the “prank” on March 1 earlier this year.
The second boy denies both charges.
A previous charge of criminal damage that recklessly endangered life was dropped.
It comes after footage emerged showing the hooded boy throwing a heavy blue chair over a glass balustrade at Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, East London, before fleeing.
The huge blue seat narrowly missed unaware shoppers below.
As he picks it up, the boy recording says: “There’s no way this guy’s doing it. Oh my god.”
Elizabeth Ajayi , prosecuting, told the court: “The video went viral. It’s fortunate that nobody was injured.”
Both boys admitted their involvement in police interviews, she added.
In a victim impact statement, a Westfield security officer said there has been “unease” among customers since the incident.
Meanwhile, the boy who threw the chair told police: “It’s not that deep, it did not hit no-one.”
He also told officers he and his co-defendant “regularly indulge” in pranks, including “throwing objects off bridges at trains”, Ms Ajayi said.
District Judge Talwinder Buttar released the youth on conditional bail until sentencing on August 13.
The second boy will next appear on September 24.
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