Stone throw teens' appeal fails

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Three teenagers who threw stones onto a road shortly before a 29-year-old driver died in a crash, have failed to get their sentences reduced.

Judges at the appeal court in London rejected south Wales trio, Luke Cotter, 16, his brother Alan Type, 15, and a 13-year-old girl's appeal.

The three are serving between two and four years youth detention.

They had admitted damaging property, being reckless as to whether life would be endangered at Merthyr Crown Court.

The teenagers who threw stones and pieces of brick at passing cars on a notoriously dangerous stretch of the A465 road were sentenced in April.

The courts must make it clear that those who commit such offences will be severely punished Mr Justice Maddison

John Lee Wells from Rassau, in Ebbw Vale, had been travelling from work in Swansea.

His silver Seat Ibiza collided with another car near the Goytre Lane underpass near Merthyr on 18 July.

Cotter was sentenced to four years' detention, Type was sentenced to three years, and the girl to two years.

At a hearing in London, three judges said deterrent sentences had to be passed on the teenagers who were appealing their sentences.

Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice Maddison and Mr Justice Hickinbottom ruled that none of the sentences passed could be described as "manifestly excessive".

Mr Justice Maddison, giving the ruling of the court, announced: "They were severe, but the case called for severe sentences."

Offences involving the throwing of missiles at traffic required little or no planning and were easy to commit - but could have "catastrophic consequences".

There had been a clear need for deterrent sentences to be passed, said the judge, adding: "The courts must make it clear that those who commit such offences will be severely punished."

At an inquest held in the death of Mr Wells earlier this week at Aberdare, coroner Peter Maddox said the teenagers had carried out an act of "breathtaking stupidity".

He ruled John Lee Wells was unlawfully killed after he swerved to avoid a car which had been hit by debris.