Members of a gang involved in the fatal ammonia attack on a man at his home address late on a Sunday night were all today (Friday July 26) jailed for life.
Minimum terms to be served by the killers of Andy Foster totalled 118 years.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how asthma-sufferer Mr Foster, 26, died in what a judge described as a “cruel and terrifying” attack at his home in Wrekenton, Gateshead, in August 2023.
The man who masterminded his killing, drugs gang leader Youssef Wynne, 40, of Wuppertal Court, Jarrow, was jailed for life by the judge, Mr Justice Ian Dove, who said he should serve at least 33 years before he can be considered for parole.
Three other men also received life sentences for their roles in Mr Foster’s murder.
(Image: Northumbria Police)
Kenneth Fawcett, 33, of Balkwell Avenue, North Shields, who was described by the judge as Wynne’s “willing enforcer”, was given a 32-year tariff.
John Wandless, also 33, of no fixed address, was given a 31-year tariff, while Josh Hawthorn, 22, of Ashfield, Jarrow, was given a 22-year tariff.
All four were found guilty of Mr Foster's murder following a lengthy trial at the court, last month, plus other charges arising from three earlier attacks last August, all in South Tyneside.
The judge said the attack on Mr Foster, the fourth in the series of such incidents, were orchestrated by Wynne and carried out by Fawcett and Wandless, over an 11-day period.
He said they were part of, “a campaign of violence designed to bring fear of retribution and reprisals to those who crossed you in your drugs trade”.
In one of the other attacks, a woman suffered serious injuries which led to her having to have one of her eyes removed after it “melted”.
The judge said: “This murder was committed during an attack which was intended to protect and enforce the drugs trading business operated by Youssef Wynne.”
He said this was about “taxing” those who Wynne deemed to be, “in need of punishment or discipline”, or needed to be, “taught a lesson to protect the trade in drugs”.
Mr Justice Dove told the killers: “The trade in illegal drugs is a curse in the communities we all live in.
“The impact of your attack upon Andrew Foster had devastating and irreversible consequences.
“He was a much-loved young man, a gentle, funny, caring partner and son with many years of his life ahead of him.”
Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Stewart Haywood, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The Crown’s case was that each of these attacks were part of a scheme to ‘tax’ rival drug-dealers, which is a street term for stealing drugs from a competitor while scaring them off from future dealing.
“The use of corrosive chemicals in these attacks would have been utterly terrifying for the victims.
"In addition to causing the tragic death of Andrew Foster, the attacks caused one other victim to lose the sight in one eye, with two others also requiring significant medical treatment.
“The Crown Prosecution Service worked closely with Northumbria Police throughout the course of the investigation to build a comprehensive case against each of these men, which was instrumental in securing the convictions against them at trial.
See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here
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"Piecing together forensic and digital evidence, we were able to show the precise role that each defendant played in carrying out this string of horrific attacks.
“Our thoughts remain with the family of Andrew Foster and to the other victims, some of whom are still dealing with the life-changing consequences of these attacks.
"We sincerely hope that the life sentences passed on their attackers today provides them with some measure of comfort.”
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