COACH driver Jeannette Morris wept uncontrollably and cried out 'my kids' after being found guilty of causing the deaths of three teenage air cadets.

Christopher Colmer, 15, of Woodhall Drive, Pinner, Wayne Maynard, 18, from Barnet and Jason Adnitt, also 15, from Edmonton died when a lorry smashed into the back of their stationary coach.

Morris, 48, of Stamford, Lincolnshire, was convicted at Peterborough Crown Court on Monday (Nov 26) of causing their death by dangerous driving after six hours of jury deliberations.

Christopher Colmer's parents, Clifford and Nicky Colmer, who welcomed the guilty verdict, paid tribute to their 'brilliant' son.

"He is very sadly missed by all his family and friends," said Mr Colmer, 42. "Whatever the result of this trial it will not bring Chris back to us. He was a brilliant boy. Not only did he have many friends who looked to him for help and support, he excelled on the academic side as well."

Former Hatch End High School pupil Christopher had been an enthusiastic member of the 2236 Squadron (Stanmore) ATC, based in Douglas Close, for two years and was also a valued member of Harrow Times' distribution team.

Morris, a mother-of-two, had parked her RAF coach in the left hand lane of the busy A1 carriageway outside Peterborough following a minor accident on August 21 last year.

Three cadets sitting in the back of the coach died, and 19 others were injured, some seriously. She had described them as 'sitting ducks' in interviews with police, the court heard.

Simon Bland, 37, of Peterborough, whose 38-ton lorry smashed into the rear of the coach, was cleared of causing death by dangerous driving.

He sighed with relief after being found guilty of driving without due care and attention.

During the 10-day trial the jury heard how Morris was ferrying the north London air cadets to RAF Wittering where they were staying on a summer camp after an orienteering trip.

After being involved in a minor accident near Thornaugh, Cambridgeshire, she stopped in the inside lane of the A1.

Moments later the lorry driven by Bland ploughed into the coach with devastating consequences.

Morris had denied the charges, blaming Bland, a delivery driver for a bakery. He admitted he was driving carelessly and had not seen the coach until it was too late.

Bland, a father-of-one, was disqualified from driving for 12 months, fined £750 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £75 but won his own defence costs.

Judge Nicholas Coleman told Bland he bore a particular burden for the accident. "You have assumed moral blame for the events of that night. You were in charge of a very large and potentially dangerous piece of machinery."

Outside court a statement from Bland and his employers said he had the 'deepest sympathy' for all the victims and in particular the 'three young people who lost their lives'.

Morris, who was bundled into a car following the verdict and driven away without commenting, faces jail when she is sentenced on December 20.

By.Matt Nixson