Yobs who randomly targeted cars, shops and houses during a spate of drive-by catapult shootings have walked free from court.

Dean Kenny, Ryan Burnside and Richard Gaudoin were said to have caused "wanton damage" totalling tens of thousands of pounds.

But, despite being jailed for a total of 21 months at Maidstone Crown Court today, the trio were all immediately released from custody due to time already served on remand and tagged curfew.

Objects such as rocks, stones, ball-bearings and even a nut and bolt were launched from two cars as they drove through Dartford, Swanley, Greenhithe and surrounding areas.

There was a total of 120 incidents of criminal damage over a 10-week period between August and November last year.

Those targeted included a moving bus with passengers on board and a mother with her two children in her car. One van was struck twice within minutes near Bluewater.

Kenny, 24, of Pier Road, Greenhithe; Burnside, also 24, from Lower Croft, Swanley; and Gaudoin, 25, of Hawthorn Road, Dartford, all denied conspiracy to commit criminal damage but were convicted after a trial in June.

Kenny was jailed for nine months, while Burnside and Gaudoin were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment.

Judge Philip St.John-Stevens said it was clear the conspiracy involved others and they themselves were not responsible for every incident.

The sentences would have been far greater if they had, he added.

"The agreement or conspiracy was one of wanton damage to people's property in a way which could have put people's lives at risk," the judge said.

"It was hard to resolve what seemed to be hard-working, responsible men involved in what can only be described as yobbish behaviour..." - Judge Philip St.John-Stevens

"Although you were not charged with being reckless so as to endanger life, firing missiles whether they be ball-bearings or stones at people's moving vehicles or houses, the risk of injury and concern is obvious."

Each of the defendants gave evidence during the trial. "It was hard to resolve what seemed to be hard-working, responsible men involved in what can only be described as yobbish behaviour," added Judge St.John-Stevens.

They were also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £500 each within six months.

During the trial, prosecutor Peter Forbes said the police investigation was a "painstaking" one as there was often "no witnesses and no explanation".

"Reports were being received by the police from members of the public who had found their parked cars, shop fronts and windows of their homes had been randomly smashed," he said.

"But of more concern was damage on occasion being caused to moving vehicles. Drivers were struck by an object apparently coming from nowhere and the window either cracking or smashing as they drove along."

The three men were linked to the crime through CCTV footage, automatic number plate recognition cameras and mobile phone evidence which put them in the area when incidents happened.

Kenny admitted driving a silver VW Golf, which was involved in 30 acts of damage on October 15.

But he told police that although he knew others were firing catapults he did not take part himself.

He and Burnside were later picked out in identification procedures as two of the men involved.

The court heard the list of criminal damage reports to police ran over 11 pages of court documents.

Locations included East Hill, Sussex Road, Darenth Road, Park Road, Hawthorn Road and Princes Road - all in Dartford; High Street, London Road and St James Lane in Greenhithe; Swanley Lane in Swanley; and roads in Horton Kirby, Eynsford, West Kingsdown and Crockenhill.

Stories you might have missed

Rail delays after man hit by train

Starving puppies found dumped

Traffic chaos as lorry hits railway bridge

Teen bridesmaid suffers fit in carriage