New figures today revealed the areas of England and Wales worst affected by acid attacks – as cases soared by 75 per cent in a year. 

Northumbria Police recorded 81 cases of physical attacks using corrosive substances, the highest overall and nearly a fifth of the total. 

This was followed by the Metropolitan police with 72, but across a population about six times as large. The third worst affected force area was the West Midlands (34 attacks) followed by Kent Police (31). Police Scotland refused to provide figures. 

Official data from police forces revealed that hundreds more victims were attacked last year, but only a tiny fraction of cases led to criminal charges.

The research by charity, Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI), identified 1,244 offences involving corrosives in 2023, compared to 710 in the previous year.

Shannelle Farrier, 19, was left in excruciating pain after she was sprayed with ammonia and bleach in a random attack on the doorstep of her flat in Newcastle

A Freedom of Information request to all police forces in the UK revealed that over a third of the crimes were physical attacks, with the remainder offences relating to threats of acid attacks, carrying of corrosives, and other serious crimes such as rape or robbery involving corrosives.

It is the second consecutive year that offences have risen, after a 69 per cent increase in 2022.

Despite the alarming rise, only eight per cent of cases lead to charges, with almost a third (32%) of cases not progressing due to lack of victim support.

Read More

EXCLUSIVE

This is what it feels like to be attacked with acid

The charity found that women make up half of all victims targeted.

Shannelle Farrier, 19, was left in excruciating pain after she was sprayed with ammonia and bleach in a random attack on the doorstep of her flat in Newcastle. 

The teenager had just returned home from a night out in the city centre in December last year with her friend when thug David Nicholson and two acquaintances knocked on her door.

The stranger asked for a cigarette and was given one by Ms Farrier’s friend before the group barged into her home.

She told the group to leave, when when they did, Nicholson, 21, squirted a substance from a Fairy liquid bottle into her face, twice.

Ms Farrier immediately felt a burning sensation and started to scream before falling unconscious while the trio sprinted off.

She said: ‘I felt burning in my eyes and my mouth. I was screaming in pain yelling that something was in my eyes.

The teenager had just returned home from a night out in the city centre in December last year with her friend when thug David Nicholson and two acquaintances knocked on her door 

Ms Farrier told the group to leave, and when they did the 21-year-old squirted a substance from a Fairy liquid bottle into her face, twice

‘I honestly thought that I was going to die and was screaming out for help. It was instant, I didn’t know what was happening. They did it without rhyme or reason. 

‘There was a strong smell of bleach. We thought it was an acid attack. I eventually ended up unconscious.

‘My friend had rang an ambulance who turned up in protective masks and hauled me in the shower to wash off as much of the substance as possible.’

Read More

Acid attack victim’s fury after she was forced to wait nearly three years for her ex-boyfriend to face justice – only to see him spared jail

Ms Farrier spent five hours being treated in hospital before returning home. 

She added: ‘He took the bottle of ammonia and bleach with the intention of using it on anyone that night. If it wasn’t me it would have been someone else.’

Nicholson was sentenced to 20 months, suspended for two years, and ordered to abstain from alcohol. 

It is still not clear what motivated the thug and Ms Farrier has slammed the ‘soft’ sentence.  

Last month, four members of a North East drugs gang were found guilty of murdering a man in an ammonia attack. 

Andrew Foster, 26, suffered a fatal asthma attack after he was sprayed in the face at his home in Gateshead in August, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The gang, led by drug dealer Youssef Wynne, will be sentenced on 26 July. 

The horrific incident was just one of a series of attacks in Gateshead and South Tyneside, one of which caused a victim to lose an eye.

David Nicholson (pictured) was spared prison after pleading guilty to assault following the attack

Andrew Foster, 26, suffered a fatal asthma attack after he was sprayed in the face at his home in Gateshead in August

There were four corrosive substance attacks in the space of 11 days, connected with drug dealing, Newcastle Crown Court heard. 

The most notorious chemical attack this year saw Abdul Ezedi travel down from Newcastle to Clapham in south-west London, where he poured an alkaline substance on his former partner and injured her children, eight and three. 

Read More

EXCLUSIVE

Fresh warning over rise of ‘copycat’ acid attacks in Britain as map shows how there have been FOUR chemical assaults in just two weeks

Ezedi allegedly threw the younger child to the ground during the attack at 7.25pm, before attempting to drive away from the scene, crashing into a stationary vehicle and fleeing on foot.

Minutes later he boarded a Tube train at Clapham South Underground station, and by 8pm he was at King’s Cross Tube station. His body was later found in the Thames.

Jaf Shah, Executive Director at ASTI, said: ‘Our new data shows that acid violence is an escalating problem in our country, with women increasingly at risk. 

‘With a new Government soon in place, we are asking our leaders to take urgent action and stop these atrocious crimes which leave victims forever scarred.

‘The incoming Government should increase funding for prevention initiatives and address the drivers that facilitate acid attacks and violent crime more generally in the UK – socio-economic inequality and deprivation, and a lack of opportunity for young people.

‘Additionally, while there are laws in place that restrict access to corrosive substances, the growing number of offences shows that the Government and businesses must tighten the enforcement of these regulations and do more to stop corrosive substances being weaponised to cause devastating harm.’ 

Pictured top left, Youssef Wynne, top right, John George Wandless, bottom left, Josh Craig Hawthorn and bottom right, Kenneth Fawcett

The Metropolitan Police launched a manhunt for attacker Ezedi (pictured) but they now believe he entered the water