Derryck John told to expect lengthy sentence after attacking six riders in space of an hour

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A teenager who threw acid at moped riders in attempts to steal their vehicles has been told by a judge to expect a lengthy jail sentence.



Derryck John threw corrosive liquid at six drivers in north and east London in the space of just over an hour on 13 July, causing one victim “life-changing” injuries, Wood Green crown court heard.

John, 17, 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.

The judge, Noel Lucas QC, adjourned sentencing and said: “The starting point for one of these offences is 12 years, but when I am dealing with six offences involving acid coupled with robberies it has to be more.”

John’s mother and brother held their heads in their hands as they sat in the public gallery. The judge previously lifted reporting restrictions, allowing John to be identified.

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 liquid singed his skin after his moped was taken.

Footage shows him being doused with water by police to wash the acid out of his eyes. The acid used had PH levels of one and two, the strongest available, the court was told.

A third count of robbery will be taken into account when John is sentenced on Monday.

In a separate case, two moped muggers caught on CCTV robbing a mother of her £25,000 Rolex watch at knifepoint in west London were jailed on Thursday.

Thomas McDermott, 24, and George Fitzgerald, 17, raced through the streets of Chelsea looking for wealthy targets before jumping off their bikes and attacking Heather Mitchell.

CCTV played to Southwark crown court showed Mitchell’s children watching in horror as their mother was dragged along the ground.

The thieves had robbed a businessman of another Rolex days earlier.

Play Video 0:24 Moped muggers threaten public with hammer and power tool – video

McDermott was on bail at the time after stealing seven motorbikes and mopeds worth tens of thousands of pounds with 20-year-old Hisham Tawfik.

All three pleaded guilty to various charges. McDermott was jailed for 12 and a half years and Fitzgerald was ordered to spend up for five years in a youth detention centre. Tawfik was jailed for three years.