A 10-year-old girl who claimed to have been shot in the throat at a park has admitted that she sustained the wound by accident.
West Midlands Police said the girl, who will not be prosecuted, had now told officers she suffered the pellet injury while playing with a weapon at a friend's house.
The youngster had alleged she was shot in a park off Bushbury Lane, Wolverhampton, prompting officers to arrest a 15-year-old youth.
Detective Inspector Mark Payne, of Wednesfield CID, confirmed that the 15-year-old had been released without charge after the girl confessed she had been shot while playing with a female friend.
The detective said: "It appears that the girls panicked after what happened and subsequently made up this story. I believe they have learned their lesson and nothing can be gained from criminalising anyone involved. I stress to anyone in a similar situation to be completely honest with us from the beginning and they will be dealt with sympathetically."
The 10-year-old was taken to hospital on Sunday and was said to be in a stable, non life-threatening condition.
