THE mother of a 14-year-old boy who took his new BB gun to school to use as a prop in his drama class has asked for the weapon to be returned.
Staff at Dyffryn Comprehensive School confiscated the bright orange weapon when 14-year-old Corey Sanders and his friends were caught playing with it on school fields during break time on Tuesday.
But mum Leanne Walsh said Corey, who had the gun bought for him as a birthday present last week, had taken it to school to use as a prop for the drama class and their upcoming performance of the Blues Brothers and wants it back.
The gun has been handed over to South Wales Police.
Ms Walsh, from Cwmavon, said: "Last Thursday Corey was meant to have drama but he missed the lesson as he had turned up for school wearing trainers.
"The school does not allow children to wear trainers but he had to as his school shoes were full of holes. I sent him with a note explaining this.
Props
"So he wasn't in the drama lesson but one of his friends told him they had been told to bring props in.
"The school didn't ring me, the first I heard was when he came home crying his eyes out.
"I didn't know he had taken it, if I had I would have told him not too.
"It was taken off him on the field, I think boys being boys, he was showing off to his friends. I would like it back, as it was his birthday present.
"It is bright orange, you couldn't mistake it for a real gun. It cost £18.99. I just think it is really unfair."
A spokesman for Neath Port Talbot Council said: "The safety of our pupils and staff comes first.
"We take incidents such as this extremely seriously.
"The head teacher followed the correct procedure and contacted the police who are now dealing with the matter."
A spokesman for South Wales Police said: "We have now taken possession of the weapon."
The spokesman was unable to say what would happen to the gun.