Victim left blind in one eye following corrosive substance attack

A woman says her life has been ‘changed forever’ after she was left blind in one eye and partially sighted in the other following a corrosive substance attack in Sunderland.

The victim had been living with her now former friend Donna English in English’s Southwick house, but English told her to leave the property following a disagreement.

On November 20 last year, English contacted the woman claiming she owed a sum of money for rent, which the victim disputed.

On turning up to her address on Carley Road, English then squirted a substance from a bottle towards the victim three times, causing injuries to her face, eyes, head, hands and inside her mouth. The substance was believed to be ammonia.

Following surgery and treatment in hospital the victim – in her 20s – was left completely blind in her right eye and partially sighted in her left.

She now relies on friends, family and carers to support to her with everyday tasks such as cooking and shopping and cannot leave home alone.

The woman named English to Response Policing Team (RPT) officers when they arrived on scene following a 999 call made by her father. Officers then carried out an extensive search of the area and found the offender hiding in a nearby garden.

Sunderland’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers then gathered evidence including obtaining witnesses statements, as well as forensic and mobile phone evidence.

English, 41, was then charged with grievous bodily harm, to which she pleaded not guilty to. Following a five-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court she was found unanimously guilty by a jury in July. English was back before the same court on Monday, June 8, where she was sentenced to 13 years in prison.  

In her personal statement the victim said: “The assault on November 20 has changed my life forever. My right eye is now completely blind and my consultant has informed me that loss is permanent.”

She added: “The assault and the injuries I have suffered have had a massive impact on my mental health. Since the assault, I often feel hopeless and that I have no future.”

Following the sentencing hearing, Detective Constable Catherine Jowett, of Northumbria Police, said: “Our thanks go to the victim in this deeply upsetting case. She has been through a horrendous ordeal since November 20 last year and been left with life-changing injuries. We also commend the woman for her immense bravery in having to speak at court as part of the trial and relive the vicious attack with which she was subjected to.

“Hopefully, now that her attacker has been jailed she can begin to move on with her life although we appreciate that permanent damage has been caused to her.”

Det Con Jowett added: “Donna English’s actions were reprehensible and completely unacceptable.

“Thankfully, we were able to make quick-time enquiries and get her into custody before being charged with a serious offence to which a jury found her guilty of.

“Let us be clear, there is absolutely no place whatsoever for violence in the communities we serve and although incidents of this nature are rare, we will always do our utmost to bring offenders to justice.

“English now has a significant period of time behind bars to reflect on the pain and misery she has caused to her victim.”