A DRUNKEN teenage yob who pelted firefighters with stones and pieces of wood while they were trying to tackle a blaze has been condemned by fire chiefs and magistrates for his appalling behaviour.

Christopher Gaffney was yesterday ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work after he admitted making the firefighters’ dangerous job even more difficult with his “stupid” attack. The 18- year-old, of Chorley Old Road, Johnson Fold, hurled missiles at fire crews as they were trying to put out a burning wheelie bin in Shackleton Grove, Johnson Fold, last month.

He also threa manager, shouted in his face and knocked on his helmet.

Howard Sloane, prosecuting, said: “This can only be described as the usual appalling behaviour we unfortunately see from certain youths when fire officers are trying to deal with a situation in relation to putting out a fire.”

Bolton magistrates heard that a resident in Shackleton Grove was woken at 1.30am on January 28 by noisy youths and the sound of a wheelie bin being dragged down the street.

She looked out and saw Gaffney leaning into the bin, then called the police when she realised it was on fire.

Firefighters arrived and, while they were trying to put out the fire, Gaffney walked up to watch manager Gary Hodson and started knocking on his helmet. When Mr Hodson asked him to leave, Gaffney became aggressive and abusive and started shouting “come on, I’ll sort you out” in his face.

The teenager eventually left, but hurled stones at the firefighters as he did so.

No one was hit or injured.

Gaffney was arrested and later admitted he had been “drunk and stupid”, but said he had nothing to do with setting fire to the bin.

Gaffney was given 200 hours of unpaid work with a 24-month community order and a three-month curfew from 9pm to 7am after pleading guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

Chairman of the bench Dr Derek Tate warned Gaffney that if he comes back before the court, he could go to jail.

He said: “Your public order offence is a very serious offence, especially as it involves firefighters.

The job of firemen is dangerous enough without people like you throwing stuff at them.

“The firemen had no idea what was in that bin — if it had spray cans or something similar, it could have gone up, and they don’t want you distracting them by throwing missiles at them.

“They’re not paid to put up with this — it’s not appropriate and it’s totally unacceptable.”

A 15-year-old who faces the same charge pleaded not guilty and his case was remitted to the youth court today.

Speaking after the hearing, Bolton borough commander Ian Bailey said: “This serves to show the public we will not accept this type of behaviour towards the emergency services and we will utilise every means possible to apprehend them."