TWO teenagers who firebombed a mosque, a Chinese takeaway and a pizza shop in a series of racially-motivated attacks have been jailed.

Matthew Howells, 19, and 16-year-old Roy Fisher targeted the premises in Darlington using petrol bombs during an arson spree in January.

Teesside Crown Court heard the ethnic minority community had been put in fear following the attacks, which took place close to the defendants' homes.

A 15-year-old boy, who was a witness in the case along with his mother, received death threats and was told in a letter he would die if he spoke out, the court heard.

Rod Hunt, prosecuting, said no motive for the attacks had been established, but it was clear by the choice of targets they had been racially-motivated.

The first premises to be bombed, on January 14, was the Jamia Mosque, in North Lodge Terrace.

Mr Hunt said: "Three petrol bombs were thrown at the mosque. Fortunately, no one was staying there overnight, although that quite often does happen."

The next night, Howells and Fisher firebombed Yings Chinese takeaway, in Major Street, causing damage to the door and window.

They continued their arson spree the next night and petrol bombed Pizza Box, in Northgate.

Owner Thaer Azab was in the flat upstairs, at 4am, when he heard a loud explosion and noticed a strong smell of petrol. He put the fire out with two buckets of water.

Chris Baker, for Howells, now 20, said he had been suffering from clinical depression.

Tom Mitchell, for Fisher, of Major Street, Darlington, said the younger boy had been influenced by Howells.

Locking up Howells, of Willow Road East, Darlington, for four-and-a-half years, and Fisher, for three years, after they admitted arson, Judge Peter Armstrong said: "Fortunately, little damage was done but the risk to other people in the community was substantial."