A paintball marshal who shot a group of nine-year-olds in their private parts and verbally abused them during a children's party has been spared jail.

Zach Ramage was working at Mayhem Paintball in Longfield when he subjected the eight children to a nightmarish experience in woodlands last June.

The 19-year-old, who was meant to be in charge of the youngsters, subjected them to a range of traumatic physical and verbal abuse, shooting them between the legs, on the feet and in the neck, as well as swearing at them and calling them "s******s".

On October 14, he was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court after being charged with 15 counts of assault by beating and six counts of cruelty to a child under 16.

The teenager, of Hartley Bottom Road in Longfield, was given a community order for 18 months, including 150 hours of unpaid work, and told to undertake work and a victim empathy session as well as pay compensation.

But one of the victim's mums, who had arranged the party and doesn't want to be named, thinks he deserves a custodial sentence.

The 39-year-old Gravesend resident told KentOnline: "It was absolutely shocking, unbelievable really that a person who was meant to be in charge of them would subject them to this. I'm still disgusted.

'Ramage not only let myself down but his colleagues, himself and his family...'

"He terrorised them for the whole time, abusing them physically and verbally.

"My son came out and we knew something was wrong straight away but it wasn't until a few days later he totally opened up and told us everything."

The mum-of-one rang the police and Mayhem Paintball and was later told Ramage had been sacked.

She praised the company for its swift action and support up until the sentencing, but says the nightmare party has had a lasting effect.

"It was traumatic for the children," she explained. "It's not something you expect when you take your child to a paintball party. He even called them the c-word.

"He should be banned completely from working with young people.

"We're not happy he avoided a custodial sentence, but I'm glad it's now been through court and exposed."

Tom Davey, who has run Mayhem Paintball for 35 years, said: "Our company has proudly employed hundreds of local youngsters and we have never experienced anything like what happened.

"The first I knew was when the organiser of the kids' party phoned, approximately an hour after the party had finished.

"I was incredulous with the allegations, and immediately began investigations within the company to establish what had happened.

"Mr Ramage was sacked in the same evening once we’d established the severity of the incident.

"I have remained in contact with the organiser throughout proceedings, and from a company point of view, have apologised profusely that this could have possibly happened.

"We supported the organiser in her decision to report the incident to the police, and have cooperated fully with all of their investigation.

"As previously stated, I have never known anyone else or could have possibly thought that someone would want to do the things that Ramage carried out that day. To say it is completely unacceptable just doesn’t cover it.

"We feel that Ramage not only let myself, who gave him the chance of employment, down but his colleagues, himself and his family, moreover he completely let the boys down he was supposed to be taking care of.

"First and foremost we are truly sorry to all of the boys and their families for the incident, and as a company we have learned a harsh lesson and have taken steps to ensure that this type of incident can never occur again."

Ramage was contacted for comment.