ITEMS thrown and catapulted onto M4 traffic, endangering lives including a coach full of children, has led to three teenagers being sentenced.

Tyler Inglut, aged 18, of Sagecroft Road, Thatcham and Josh Rogers, aged 18, of Sandstone Grove, Hermitage, and a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons were sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Friday, June 26.

The three were charged with criminal damage recklessly endangering life after it was discovered they had been catapulting and throwing items at vehicles travelling on the M4 near Newbury from a footbridge in Oareborough, Hermitage, on June 7, 2018.

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Several vehicles were damaged as a result of this, including several lorries, vans and a coach full of school children.

Inglut and Rogers pleaded guilty to criminal damage recklessly endangering life at Reading Crown Court on November 19, 2019 and February 28, 2020 respectively.

The 17-year-old pleaded guilty to criminal damage recklessly endangering life at Reading Crown Court on February 28 this year.

Inglut and Rogers were both sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years and ordered to complete 300 hours’ of unpaid work and 35 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.

The 17-year-old was made subject to an enhanced youth rehabilitation order with two years’ supervision and a three month electronically monitored curfew.

All three were also ordered to pay £400 in compensation within the next 12 months.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Tara Hamilton, based at Newbury police station, said: “The reckless acts of Inglut, Rogers and the other boy were highly dangerous and caused damage to a number of vehicles.

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“It was only by good fortune that nobody was seriously injured or possibly even killed.

“Traffic on that stretch of the motorway would have been quite heavy and fast-moving, and clearly throwing or catapulting items at vehicles is extremely dangerous.

"The actions of these three put people’s lives in danger.

“Arrests were made quickly and I would like to thank all our officers who assisted in this investigation which has brought these three to justice.

“We will never tolerate such reckless behaviour, and these convictions show clearly to others the implications such actions can have, not only on the public, but also on those that commit the acts.”