A GANG of tearaway teens have been sentenced for dozens of offences that made peoples’ lives a misery.

The group of 13 and 14-year-olds targeted and intimidated other youngsters in Worthing and Adur.

Their offences included inflicting assaults where they inflicted actual bodily harm.

The violence left some of their victims living in fear and afraid to speak out.

The gang, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were convicted of 32 offences in total after court cases spanning 14 months.

They are now subject to 23 restraining orders, two criminal behaviour orders which includes one being banned from using social media, and one boy under a six-month curfew.

Worthing and Adur’s district commander Sarah Leadbeatter said the gang’s actions have caused “distress and upset in the community”.

Chief Inspector Leadbeatter said: “They would target individuals, including their peers, and use fear, intimidation and violence towards their victims.

“The group would often show little regard to the distress they were causing to not only the victims, but the victims’ families and wider community.

“I would like to personally thank the victims in each of the cases. They have shown incredible strength and bravery throughout this investigation especially when having to relive the traumatic events, in order for us to bring the offenders to justice.

“Although the victims in this case have physically recovered from their injuries, for some the psychological injuries remain, but I hope the conclusion of this criminal investigation goes some way to start that healing process.

“Tackling serious youth related violence across our district continues to remain my priority and we remain engaged with our communities in order to address local concerns and build on community intelligence.”

She said the final court case was heard on August 20, and said the youths’ behaviour is now being addressed.

The group consisted of two 13-year-old boys from Goring, two 13-year-old boys from Worthing, a 13-year-old boy from Lancing and two boys from Durrington aged 13 and 14.

Punishments for the seven boys included Youth Referral Orders totalling more than 50 months, ten months worth of supervision orders, 24 months of “intensive supervision” and surveillance orders, a six month tagged curfew, £1,390 in compensation to victims, and 22 months worth of parental orders.

Chief Insp Leadbeatter added: “The behaviour from this group has caused distress and upset in the community, which is simply unacceptable.”