A 17-year-old from Thornton Heath has been jailed for a string of acid attacks on moped riders.

Derryck John previously admitted in January to six counts of throwing a corrosive substance with intent to disable, maim, disfigure or do grievous bodily harm, four counts of attempted robbery of a moped, and two counts of robbery of a moped.

Today (March 12) the teenager, who can be named after a judge lifted reporting restrictions, was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court to 10-and-a-half years for carrying out a spate of acid attacks against moped riders in a bid to steal their vehicles.

Following John's guilty plea in January, DS James Leeks, of Hackney CID, said it was unfathomable that someone would try to cause this much damage, just for a few mopeds.

“Derryck John did not think twice about using a life changing and even potentially life-threatening substance against those who resisted his robbery attempts," he said.

"Acid attacks ruin lives and have no place in our society.

“It beggars belief that anyone would be prepared to scar someone for life and leave them to live with life-changing injuries for the sake of a phone or a moped."