Two schoolboys have denied criminal damage after a large chair was hurled from the third floor of Westfield Stratford City, narrowly missing a shopper in a shocking incident that was captured on video and widely shared across social media platforms.

The boys, aged 14 and 15, appeared at Stratford Youth Court earlier today (May 21), where they pleaded not guilty to criminal damage with recklessness, in connection with the event that took place on March 1.

Caught on Camera: Moment of Impact

Footage of the incident, uploaded to TikTok and Snapchat, shows a four-foot-wide seat being dropped from an upper floor, crashing to the ground just inches from a man walking beneath. The chair, valued at £500, was destroyed.

In the viral video, a bystander can be heard exclaiming, “There’s no way this guy’s doing this, oh my God,” as the chair is dropped. The clip was captioned: “No way bro almost killed someone.”

Prosecution: “Filmed for Social Media”

Prosecutor Matthew Groves told the court:

“One of the boys picked up the large chair and threw it 50 feet down while being filmed by the other. The incident was filmed by agreement with a view to being posted on the internet.”

The Crown alleges the pair were reckless as to whether the life of another person would thereby be endangered by their actions.

Legal Proceedings and Bail Conditions

Both teens, who cannot be named due to their age, face charges of damaging and attempting to destroy property, with a significant public safety component due to the potential for serious injury or death.

They have been released on bail, under strict conditions preventing them from contacting each other or returning to Westfield Stratford City.

The case has sparked strong reactions online, with many social media users demanding accountability after the footage circulated widely and drew condemnation.

Next Steps

The case is expected to return to Stratford Youth Court later this year for a full hearing.