A 17-year-old boy has been jailed for 10 and a half years for attacking six moped riders with acid while trying to steal their bikes.Derryck John, from Croydon, previously admitted carrying out the attacks in the north and east of London on 13 July last year.
He sprayed the riders in the face with a noxious liquid, stole two mopeds and attempted to take another four.
One of the victims was left with "life-changing injuries", police said.
Judge Noel Lucas QC described John's "grave crimes" against members of the public as "despicable and cowardly".
John appeared via video-link at Wood Green Crown Court where he previously pleaded guilty to 12 offences.These included 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.
At the time Judge Lucas lifted restrictions identifying the teenager, saying there was an "overwhelming, huge public interest" in doing so.
The substance used in the attacks was thought to have had a pH of one or two, an acidity level similar to battery acid.
The judge told John that had he been sentencing him as an adult and had he been convicted after a trial as opposed to having pleaded guilty, the sentence would have been 22 years' imprisonment.
Jabed Hussain, who suffered facial burns and breathing problems after he was attacked by John, said he had become a "totally different" person and was unable to return to work.
He called for tougher sentences for people who carry out acid attacks and said he had written to the home secretary to review the law.
