Schoolboys who planned Columbine-style massacre sentenced to 22 years in jail

Two 15-year-old boys have been sentenced to 22 years for plotting to murder fellow students and teachers at a school.

They've been named as Thomas Wyllie and Alex Bolland, after reporting restrictions were lifted at Leeds Crown Court.

The teenagers, who were said by prosecutors to have "hero-worshipped'' the perpetrators of the 1999 Columbine massacre, were found guilty of conspiracy to murder back in May after planning an attack on a school in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

During the three-week trial, jurors heard how the boys had prepared a "hit list'' of people they wanted to kill, including students who had bullied or wronged them.

Analysis of their devices showed that they had researched weapons online and had both downloaded a bomb-making manual.

The older defendant, described as the "leader'' of the pair, had supposedly "idolised'' Eric Harris, who took up arms with fellow teenager Dylan Klebold and carried out a massacre at Columbine High School, Colorado, killing themselves and 13 others.

The same boy was later found to have kept a diary in which he espoused what prosecutors described as a "far-right wing ideology'' and discussed his motivations for wanting to carry out an attack.

The pair were questioned by police officers when, in September 2017, the younger boy told someone via Snapchat that they were planning to carry out a shooting.

When asked if he was joking, he responded: "No. No one innocent will die. We promise.''

The next day, he made what the prosecution described as "clear and unvarnished'' confessions to police officers.

During his evidence, the teacher told the court that the boy had said that his targets were "infecting the gene pool'' and that he and his friend were performing a "service to society''.

Officers searched the boy's "hideout'', where they discovered a rucksack filled with screws, boards, and a flammable liquid which, prosecutors suggested were instruments with which to build an explosive device

In opening the case, prosecutor Paul Greaney QC said:

"Eighteen years after the Columbine Massacre and nearly 4,500 miles away, two young teenagers in North Yorkshire became fascinated with Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold."

Following the verdict, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb told jurors:

"Nobody will be in any doubt as to the gravity of their conduct and the plans they have made.''