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A mayor has been arrested and charged after shooting at a feral cat menacing his henhouse and hitting a teenager in the head.

Doctors in Bordeaux have operated on the 14-year-old boy. He was hit, possibly by a ricochet, while waiting for the school bus with friends.

Eric Lambert, 57, a winemaker and mayor of Malaville in Charente, appeared in court in Angoulême and told local newspaper Charente Libre afterwards: “I don't know what happened. I just can't figure it out.

“Why I didn’t do as normal and call the pound – but then took my rifle to shoot this wildcat... Especially since I'm a terrible shot.

“I missed the cat, but unfortunately, I didn't miss the boy. It could have been much worse. I don't understand.�

Lambert has been charged with involuntary wounding, putting other lives in danger, have an undeclared firearm and animal cruelty.