This is the shocking moment a 16-year-old thug's 72-minute acid attack spree came to an end after he crashed his stolen moped into the back of a lorry.

Derryck John, now 17, was jailed today for 10-and-a-half years for throwing acid into the face of six moped riders across north and east London.

The attacks, which happened in just over an hour and left driver with ‘life-changing’ injuries, only came to an end when John attempted to overtake a car but ended up crashing into the back of a Greggs lorry.

In the clip he is seen trying to get back on his moped before giving up and limping away.

Derryck John (pictured left and right) has been jailed over a spate of moped acid attacks

Moped mugger John was caught on CCTV at a petrol station in Hackney, East London

John was eventually caught on CCTV at a petrol station in Hackney, east London.

He used an Evian bottle to spray acid in the face of his victims around ten times during his spree between 9.20pm and 11.28pm on July 13.

The teenager claims he was urged on by an older accomplice who he looked up to in a gang who offered him what his parents could not, Wood Green Crown Court heard.

John, now 17, of Croydon, South London, admitted 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.

Jailing John for ten years and six months Judge Noel Lucas QC said: 'Your actions were both despicable and callous.

Social media footage from the scene of one of the attacks shows people trying to help one victim by dousing him with water

ACID ATTACKS: THE LAW IN THE UK Between November 2016 and April 2017 there were 408 attacks, of which about 21% were committed by under-18s. Earlier this month it was announced that acid would be defined as a 'highly dangerous weapon' for the first time so tougher prison sentences could be imposed. Anyone caught carrying acid can be charged with possession of an offensive weapon under the Prevention of Crime Act, which carries a maximum penalty of four years in jail. However those carrying out attacks can be charged with GBH with intent which carries a maximum life sentence. Home Secretary Amber Rudd said she intended to ban the sales of corrosive substances to under-18s. If a person is caught twice with acid, they would serve a minimum six-month sentence if over the age of 18, under new government guidelines. Under-18s will be handed a four-month detention and training order. Advertisement

'You and your accomplice chose to attack members of the public who were going about their lawful business.

'These were grave crimes and you attacked members of the public with acid of what appears to be on the strongest end of the scale.

'You have not revealed the name of your accomplice, or the liquid that was used or where you obtained it.'

John's mother and brother held their heads in their hands as they sat in the public gallery.

Father-of-one Jabed Hussain, 32, was the first person to be targeted at the Hackney Road junction with Queensbridge Road at about 10.30pm.

He screamed for help as the flesh-burning liquid singed his skin, while the suspects made off with his moped.

Footage shows him being doused with water by police to wash the acid out of his eyes. The acid used ranged from PH levels one and two - the strongest available.

The second attack was just 20 minutes later when another victim was sprayed with acid on the Upper Street junction with Highbury Corner in Islington.

At about 11.05pm a third attack took place on Shoreditch High Street, followed by another within fifteen minutes on Cazenove Road, leaving the man with 'life-changing' injuries.

The scene on St Paul's Road in Islington, North London (left), after an attack by John (right)

John (left) is pictured at the petrol station in Hackney, East London, on July 13 at 11.25pm

Another victim was targeted as he sat in traffic on Chatsworth Road at about 11.30pm, with the attackers fleeing the scene on the man's moped.

Judge Noel Lucas QC Judge Lucas is known among staff at Wood Green Crown Court as the 'acid king' after he jailed notorious attacker Arthur Collins last year. He said: 'The carrying and use of corrosive liquids is now a significant and growing problem in London and in particular east of London. 'It is clear to me that the carrying and use of corrosive fluids is rapidly becoming a serious and growing problem in London and in particular this part of London, so too are crimes using scooters. 'That said the facts of this case are in themselves so serious that it is not necessary to increase the sentence I pass on Mr John in order to convey to the wider community the abhorrence the court feels in respect of such offences.' Advertisement

Speaking at an earlier hearing prosecutor Saira Nisar said: 'These are a series of serious attacks moped and motorcycle riders that took place on July 13 over a very short period of time - approximately two hours.

'The modus operandi over all of the offences is identical - the attacker strikes when the moped rider is at a red light.

'The corrosive liquid is then sprayed directly over the face of the rider.

'As the rider is struggling with the pain and disorientation of being sprayed with this noxious substance, the riders who have done this steal or attempt to steal the vehicle.'

John was already on bail for six offences including theft and possession of drugs and has a conviction of arson.

DS James Leeks from Hackney CID said: ‘Derryck John did not think twice about using a life changing and even potentially life-threatening substance against those who resisted his robbery attempts.

'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.

‘We are working hard to keep the public safe and make the streets hostile territory for criminals who steal scooters and use them to snatch valuables from members of the public.

‘We have a particular focus on the small number of criminals prepared to use corrosive substances to do so.’

The teenager admitted six counts of throwing a corrosive liquid with intent, two counts of robbery and four counts of attempted robbery.

The scene of one of the attacks at the Hackney Road junction with Queensbridge Road in East London shows a police cordon and food delivery drivers who rushed to the aid of a victim