The first victim of a series of chemical attacks within 11 days has told a murder trial jury of the brief but terrifying incident which left him temporarily blinded in his own home late at night.

Newcastle Crown Court was told the witness was the first of four victims of such ammonia attacks in the South Tyneside and Gateshead areas, last August, culminating in the death of Andrew Foster.

Mr Foster, 26, died in hospital from the after-effects of having a corrosive liquid thrust into his face by two men entering his home in Wrekenton, Gateshead, late on Sunday August 20, last year.

The prosecution say all the victims, including a woman who lost an eye in another incident, received their injuries in targeted attacks, ‘taxing’ alleged drug dealers.

The Northern Echo: Andy Foster, 26, who died from the effects of an ammonia attack on the doorstep of his home in

All were said to have been carried out at the behest of dealer Youssef Wynne, by his “enforcer” Kenneth Paul Fawcett, who recruited a sidekick John George Wandless to take part in the final three attacks.

A fourth accused, Josh Craig Hawthorn, was described as Wynne’s “right-hand man”, who allegedly played a role arranging the final attack, which led to Mr Foster’s death.

The court heard the first incident took place at an address in Masefield Drive, South Shields, shortly after midnight on August 9, last year.

Giving evidence on the second day of the trial of the four accused, he said he had just returned home after taking his dog for a late-night walk, when there was a knock on an internal porch door.

He just left the living room to see who was there when he noticed a male figure in dark clothing with a pale complexion approaching him in the passage of the house.

In a matter of seconds the stranger, who had a small dark-coloured dog with him, thrust something in his direction and he was immediately left blinded with a stinging sensation to his face.

The victim said the man then ran back out of the house.

He said he ran, stumbling up the stairs, where his children were present, and an emergency call was made, while he made efforts to wash his face and eyes.

The victim said he thought it must have been a “random attack” at possibly the wrong address as he could not work out why he was targeted.

“It was so quick and he was gone.”

Asked about the attacker’s behaviour, he said: “It was like he didn’t want to be there.

“Maybe he realised it was the wrong house.

“I didn’t know why someone would come and attack me.”

The prosecution alleges that the assailant was defendant Fawcett.

In cross-examination, Fawcett’s counsel, Francis Fitzgibbon KC, asked him: “As far as you were concerned it was a completely random attack on you?”

The victim replied: “I can’t think or know the reason why someone would break into my house.

“There was a lot of motorbike thefts in the area at the time and I thought they came to take my motorbike.

“I felt it was just random to me.

“I have never been worried in my own home.”

He said that on returning from his dog walk a pre-ordered takeaway arrived and he forgot to lock the door.

Asked about the attack, he said: “It took literally a second for that liquid to hit my face and I was blinded and gasping.”

He said the police arrived within minutes to assist him in cleansing his face and he was taken to hospital for further treatment shortly afterwards.

The witness said within weeks most of his sight was restored but, asked if he could recognise who the attacker was, he said “no”.

The Northern Echo:

Fawcett, 33, of Balkwell Avenue, North Shields, and Wandless, also 33, formerly of North Shields, but said to be of no fixed abode, plus 39-year-old Wynne, of Wuppertal Court, and 22-year-old Hawthorn, of Ashfield, both Jarrow, South Tyneside, all deny the murder of Mr Foster and robbery of cannabis edibles from him.

Wynne denies assaulting Mr Foster, causing actual bodily harm, 11 months earlier.

Fawcett, Wandless and Wynne also deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent to the woman who lost an eye, on August 16, and attempted gbh with intent to another victim, on August 12.

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

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Fawcett and Wynne deny a similar charge relating to the first victim, in the incident in South Shields, on August 9.

Wandless has admitted handling a stolen Volkswagen Golf between August 3 and 23, and arson, destroying it by fire, on August 22 last year.

The trial continues tomorrow (Thursday May 16).