A gang of vandals who used catapults to randomly cause thousands of pounds worth of damage and danger to cars, vans, buses, shop fronts and houses could be facing jail.

The warning was given after Dean Kenny, Richard Gaudoin and Ryan Burnside were convicted of conspiracy to commit criminal damage.

Missiles such as rocks, stones, ball-bearings and a nut and bolt were either thrown or catapulted from two cars as they drove through Dartford, Swanley, Greenhithe and surrounding areas over a 10-week campaign.

Maidstone Crown Court heard there was a total of 120 incidents including a moving bus with passengers on board and a mum with her two children in her car.

One van was struck twice within minutes near Bluewater shopping centre.

Kenny, of Pier Road, Greenhithe, Gaudoin, of Hawthorn Road, Dartford, and Burnside, from Lower Croft, Swanley, all denied the charge and a lengthy trial followed.

Prosecutor Peter Forbes said the police investigation was painstaking as there were 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.”

Kenny, 24, Gaudoin, 25, and 24-year-old Burnside were linked to the attacks through CCTV footage, automatic number plate recognition cameras and “extremely illuminating” mobile phone evidence.

Mr Forbes said it was as if Kenny was identifying a vehicle to friends to hit and then saying he had found another one.

"Drivers were struck by an object apparently coming from nowhere and the window either cracking or smashing as they drove along" - prosecutor Peter Forbes

He admitted driving a silver VW Golf involved in 30 incidents on October 15, but claimed that although he knew others were firing catapults he did not do so himself.

Mr Forbes said after the unanimous verdicts were returned that the total cost of the damage was difficult to quantify but it was at least £37,000.

Adjourning sentence until July 19, Judge Philip St John-Stevens said: “It is an unusual case. It seems to me reports may assist the court.”

Granting conditional bail including curfews, he told the three: “Each of you should be under no illusion that the court may well pass a custodial sentence. I want to understand your background and this offending.”