Ammonia attacks left Gateshead man dead and caused Jarrow woman to lose eye, murder jury told

One man was allegedly murdered and a woman lost an eye during a spate of ammonia attacks, a court heard.

Andrew Foster died after allegedly being squirted with the chemical at his home as part of what prosecutors say was a scheme to "tax" drug dealers in Gateshead and South Tyneside. Prosecutors say Youssef Wynne was a drug dealer and that John Wandless, Kenneth Fawcett and Josh Hawthorn worked for him.

All four deny murdering and robbing Mr Foster at his home in Wrekenton and are standing trial at Newcastle Crown Court. Fawcett and Wandless were allegedly physically present at the fatal attack and Wynne and Hawthorn are said to have been involved in organising it.

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Mark McKone KC, prosecuting, told jurors: "On the night of the 20th of August last year, Andrew Foster was at home with his partner when two men entered his home and attacked him by throwing a chemical in his face. As a result, he couldn’t breathe. He suffered a severe respiratory attack, he had a heart attack and died.

"The chemical attack upon Mr Foster was the fourth similar chemical attack in that general area in just 11 days, between 9th and 20th of August. The prosecution say that four separate victims were attacked at their homes in the Gateshead or South Shields areas by ammonia, or a similar corrrosive liquid, being thrown or sprayed into their faces.

"Andrew Foster died, one woman lost an eye and two other men needed medical treatment. The prosecution say that the violence was connected to drug dealing.

"The prosecution say that the four defendants were part of a scheme to tax other drug dealers. Taxing is a slang word in the drugs world for dealers stealing drugs from another dealer and, at the same time, scaring off the competition from future drug dealing."

The prosecution do not say that Wynne and Hawthorn were present at any of the four attacks. But Mr McKone said: "The prosecution do say that Wynne was involved in organising all the attacks and that Hawthorn was also involved in organising the fourth and fatal attack. The attacks were carried out, we submit, for the benefit of Wynne and Hawthorn."

It was on Sunday August 20 at 11.02pm that the prosecution say Fawcett and Wandless attacked Mr Foster in his home as part of a joint plan with Wynne and Hawthorn.

Mr McKone said: "The prosecution submit that anyone attacking someone in the face with ammonia must intend to cause at least really serious harm. Those using ammonia to attack others will have seen the suffering of the victim on the earlier occasions.

"The prosecution say that all four defendants were part of a joint enterprise. The defendants formed a joint plan for Fawcett and Wandless to drive to the victim's home at Eighton Terrace, Wrekenton, in Gateshead in order to attack him with ammonia."

The four defendants also deny an offence of robbery, relating to the stealing of cannabis edibles, after Mr Foster had allegedly been attacked with ammonia. Wynne also denies assault on Mr Foster 11 months before he died in an alleged dispute over drugs.

Wynne, Fawcett and Wandless also deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent to a woman on August 16 last year. She lost an eye as a consequence of the alleged attack.

Wynne and Fawcett deny attempting to cause GBH with intent on a man on August 9 2023. The man, who lived in South Shields with his children, was allegedly squirted in the face with ammonia on August 9 by by Fawcett. The prosecution say that Wynne asked Fawcett to carry out this attack.

Mr McKone said: "[He] felt a horrendous burning and stinging in his eyes and face. He spat out liquid from his mouth. [He] was taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment, including extensive treatment to his eye. [He] says that this incident has had a very detrimental effect on his life."

Wynne, Fawcett and Wandless deny attempting to cause GBH with intent on another man on August 12 last year. He was at a house in Hebburn when he was allegedly attacked.

CCTV shows two men, allegedly Fawcett and Wandless, went to the house at 5.50pm on Saturday August 12 in possession of "distinctive ammonia bottles", the manufacturer being Pentah. The prosecution say that Fawcett and Wandless were found with the same brand and bottle style of ammonia when they were arrested after the murder.

The second man was sprayed in the face with ammonia and required hospital treatment. He had difficulty breathing, his eyes were stinging and his lips were swollen.

Wandless has pleaded to handling a stolen VW Golf and arson by burning it out after it was allegedly used in three of the incidents. Wynne, 39, of Wuppertal Court, Jarrow, Wandless, 33, of no fixed address, Fawcett, 33, of Balkwell Avenue, North Shields and Hawthorn, 22, of Ashfield, Jarrow, deny the other charges.

The prosecution opening will resume on Wednesday and the trial continues.