A gang which caused thousands of pounds’ worth of damage in drive-by shootings with a ball bearing gun has been brought to book.

Six people, aged between 16 and 19, have been dealt with by magistrates for a series of offences in May this year which left 32 motorists with damaged cars.

The random shootings hit 19 cars in one night in Witney, Carterton and Eynsham, and continued over two weeks.

The Oxford Mail was alerted to the series of attacks by John Pole, a former chief superintendent in the Metropolitan Police.

He was outraged that his BMW had been targeted three times outside his home in Curbridge.

When he took the car in for a windscreen repair to a local garage he was told they had been inundated with similar repair jobs.

The paper ran an appeal for information to the police, resulting in an anonymous tip-off which led to the discovery of the gun at a house in Holloway Road, Witney, and the rounding-up of the gang.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Toby Shergold: “One young man was the owner of the gun and also drove the car around the district at night, giving the gun to others to take random pot-shots to cause damage to parked-up vehicles.”

The gun, which shot small ball bearings powered by a gas canister, has been destroyed under a magistrates’ order.

The six who were involved were: l Aaron Deakin-Harse, 19, of Squires Close, Brize Norton, who admitted criminal damage and asked for 24 similar offences to be taken into consideration. He was given a community service order of 100 hours, and ordered to pay £500 compensation with £124 court costs.

l David Jessiman, 19, of Yeatsbury Road, Carterton, admitted criminal damage and asked for four similar cases to be considered.

He was given a community service order of 75 hours, and ordered to pay £172 compensation with £125 court costs.

l Callum Johnson, 18, of Laburnum Close, Carterton, admitted criminal damage.

He was given a community service order for 60 hours, and ordered to pay £205 compensation with £75 court costs.

l Neil Hull, 18, of Corbett Road, Carterton, admitted criminal damage and asked for four other similar offences to be taken into consideration.

He was given a community service order for 60 hours and ordered to pay £621.92 in compensation.

l Two youths were dealt with by a juvenile court after admitting criminal damage. One aged 16 was given a 40-hour community service order, and ordered to pay £300 compensation with £50 court costs, while a 17-year-old was given a similar sentence.

Witney area police commander Chief Insp Jack Malhi said: “This is an example of mindless acts by young people which could potentially have led to much more serious consequences. It could have resulted in someone being shot and injured.”

Mr Malhi added: “Sentencing in this case is quite proportionate to the level of destruction it caused to a number of people throughout an area of west Oxfordshire, including a risk to their safety.

“I would also like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service, who are often criticised, who did an excellent job in bringing these people to book.”

witney@oxfordmail.co.uk