A one-time 'Student of the Year' - who shot himself in the leg as he played around with a loaded gun while high on cannabis - is starting a three-and-a-half year prison sentence.
Jakob Kakala, 18, who received the award from ex-Croydon mayor Avril Slipper while studying at Shirley Park's Oasis Academy told a tissue of lies to police in a bid to avoid prosecution.
"I believe you shot yourself with it and you also had expandable ammunition, which is an aggravating feature," Croydon Crown Court (pictured) Judge Shani Barnes told him on Friday.
First-time offender Kakala, of High Street, Croydon pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm, namely a .22 Brocock gas cartridge revolver and possessing expanding ammunition, namely three cartridges on October 11.
He sought treatment at Croydon University Hospital for the bullet wound and police found the weapon and ammunition when they searched his address.
"He is exceptionally disappointed in himself," said Miss Brenda Campbell, defending. "This is not a young man used to dealing with the youth offending team.
"These last months in Feltham have been extremely hard and his requests for his college work to be brought in have been refused.
"He has tried to keep his head down while in there. He is not a member of any gang and is determined not to be a beacon of disappointment, but a beacon of hope."
Judge Barnes told Kakala: "A great number of people hold you in high esteem and you have earned their respect and admiration.
"On the one hand we have a thoughtful, articulate, kind young man, a joy to have in school and on the other a young man spending an evening drinking and smoking cannabis.
"What a thing for a young man of your intelligence and abilities to be involved with, someone who has worked so tirelessly in the community to involve yourself in something so grave.
"You know have two of the most serious convictions that you can have and it will be a burden that you will have to carry and something that will make you have to try harder."
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