Yahoo News 'Despicable' teenager who carried out acid attacks against moped riders to steal their vehicles is jailed
A teenager who carried out a spate of acid attacks against moped drivers in an attempt to steal their vehicles has been jailed.
Derryck John, 17, from Croydon, south London, was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years at Wood Green Crown Court after he targeted six riders in north and east London in less than 90 minutes on July 13 last year.
John sprayed his victims in the face with a noxious liquid, which police said left one with ‘life-changing injuries’.
John, who appeared in court via video link, carried out ‘grave crimes’, according to Judge Noel Lucas QC.
In his sentencing remarks, the judge said John’s actions were ‘despicable’.
Judge Lucas said: ‘Your actions on the evening of 13 July 2017 were despicable and cowardly.
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‘You and your accomplice chose to attack members of the public who were going about their lawful business.
‘These were grave crimes. You attacked members of the public with what appears to have been an acid at the strongest end of the scale of acids.
‘You have not revealed the name of your accomplice or the precise nature of the corrosive fluid used or where you and your accomplice obtained it.’
John was named in January because there was an ‘overwhelming, huge public interest’ in identifying the teenager after he pleaded guilty to six counts of throwing a corrosive liquid with intent to ‘disable, burn, maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm’, two counts of robbery and four counts of attempted robbery.
Commenting on the prevalence of acids attacks, Judge Lucas added: ‘I can state from my own knowledge of the offences arriving at this Crown Court that such offences have risen sharply in the last 12 months.
‘This is the second major corrosive fluid case I have had to deal with in the past three months.’
The judge added: ‘It is clear to me that the carrying and use of corrosive liquids is rapidly becoming a serious and growing problem in London and in particular, in this part of London.
‘So too are crimes committed using scooters.’
John stole two mopeds and tried to take another four from their owners, before being arrested at around 3am on July 14.
A note from the defendant read out in court in January said: ‘I really didn’t appreciate the damage that would be done.
‘I’m terrified of the sentence that I will receive and I’m very sorry for what I did and realise I will receive a significant sentence of imprisonment.’
