A TEENAGER pointed a fake gun at a woman's head and demanded cash -- because he was "bored".

Lee Parker, aged 16, threatened to pull the trigger, telling his terrified victim: "All I want is some money", Bolton Crown Court was told.

But he escaped youth custody after the judge told him that she believed if she locked him away he would become a man with "vicious criminal intent", rather than the bored teenager he was.

The case comes only two weeks after the Bolton Evening News highlighted how replica guns were cheaply available in the town's shopping centre, prompting a police chief to call for a ban and council chiefs to pledge to review what is being sold on the town's market stalls.

Parker, of Priory Place, Tonge Moor, confronted his victim as she walked across a car park near Bromwich Street and Bradford Street, on the outskirts of Bolton town centre. He said he had been bored and pointed the gun at the terrified woman for a bit of fun.

Parker had also been convicted after a trial last month of attempted robbery of a woman pushing a babychair when he tried to snatch her handbag.

He also admitted threatening to stab another woman with a laser pen as she went to get into her car. The frightened woman thought he had been holding a knife.

He told his intended victim on that occasion: "If you don't let me into your car, this will go right through you".

He also pointed the fake gun at a man trying to park his vehicle in the Octagon car park and told him to turn his stereo down as it was too loud.

Parker was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court for attempted robbery, affray and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear and alarm.

Mark Monaghan, defending, said Parker had been bored and had pointed the gun at the women for a bit of fun.

When he had been arrested, he admitted having a laser pen and the gun, but denied threatening the woman for cash.

His criminal record was only two shoplifting offences, which had been dealt with by Bolton Youth Court.

Judge Lindsey Kushner, QC, told Parker yesterday she believed he needed help rather than custody. She placed him on an intensive three-year supervision order.

Judge Kushner said: "Judges around the country are receiving instructions from London about people who go round with guns. The judges have been told to lock these people up for many years, but I have to look at you in a different way.

"I do take into account that you are operating at a much younger age than your 16 years. Reports say you have been functioning at a level between six and 12 years of age.

"It's with a view to teaching you what normal behaviour is so as to prevent you becoming a hardened criminal of the future that I am prepared to give you a supervision order, but people must not think I am a judge gone soft."

She said he had not been helped by being in a Young Offender's Institution because he had been assaulted and bullied.

The Home Office earlier this month announced plans to ban youngsters aged under 17 from carrying replica guns, and air guns, unsupervised.