Drugs gang jailed for ammonia attack murder

Members of a drugs gang who attacked four people with ammonia, killing one of them, have been jailed for life.

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

A woman lost an eye and two other men were also injured in attacks spanning 11 days in South Tyneside, with four men subsequently found guilty of offences including murder.

Gang leader and orchestrator of the attacks Youssef Wynne, dubbed the "Tony Soprano of Jarrow", was jailed for a minimum of 33 years.

Wynne's "enforcer" Kenneth Paul Fawcett must serve at least 32 years and his accomplice John Wandless 31 years.

Josh Hawthorn was jailed for a minimum of 22 years for helping to organise the attack on Mr Foster.

The murder trial heard Mr Foster made and sold cannabis sweets and was killed in a so-called "taxing" raid, where drug dealers rob their rivals.

He was attacked at about 23:00 BST on 20 August, having answered a knock at his front door on Eighth Terrace, Wrekenton, to Fawcett and Wandless.

Similar attacks had been carried out at homes in Jarrow, South Shields and Hebburn over the preceding 11 days.

In a statement read to the court, Mr Foster's mother Karen said he was her only son and they were extremely close, adding they spoke every day and he would cheer her up if she was feeling down.

She said he and his partner Katie Harrison had a "wonderful relationship" and she was looking forward to them getting married and having children, but now she would have to come to terms with the fact she would never have grandchildren.

She said Mr Foster died in hospital "surrounded by family and close friends", but she was "haunted" by his death and was too angry to properly grieve.

His partner Ms Harrison, who was upstairs in bed and ran to his aid after hearing him scream during the attack, said she relived seeing him "fighting for his life" every day.

Describing her partner as the "most funny, gentle and caring person", she added: "I have broken my heart beyond anything I knew possible."

Ms Harrison said she now lived in fear for both herself and her family and was a shadow of the person she was.

She said she missed watching football, going for meals and just "cuddling on the sofa doing nothing" with Mr Foster.

The woman who lost her left eye in one of the attacks said she loved her life and family but, at the age of 43, would "not see the world in a clear picture" ever again.

She said she was self-conscious of her injury and felt "off on one side all the time".

"Why did they hate me so much? They literally destroyed my life."

In mitigation for Fawcett, Francis Fitzgibbon said the gang had not intended to kill anyone in any of the attacks, adding: "The primary intention was to steal drugs."

The killers and their crimes were:

• Wynne, 40 and of Wuppertal Court, Jarrow, guilty of murder, robbery, assault causing actual bodily harm, inflicting grievous bodily harm and two counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent
• Fawcett, 33 and of Balkwell Avenue, North Shields, guilty of murder, robbery, inflicting grievous bodily harm and two counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent
• Wandless, 33 and of no fixed abode, guilty of murder, robbery, inflicting grievous bodily harm and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, having admitted handling a stolen VW Golf and arson for destroying the car
• Hawthorn, 22 and of Ashfield, Jarrow, guilty of murder and robbery

Judge Mr Justice Dove said the attacks were part of a "campaign of violence designed to bring a fear of retribution or reprisals" to those who crossed the drugs gang.

He said drug dealing was a "curse on communities" and the gang had created a climate of fear among residents.

The judge said the death of Mr Foster, who was a much-loved and gentle partner and son, was "cruel and terrifying" and the impact of the attack had had "devastating and irreversible consequences".

Mr Justice Dove said the attacks were planned with a "very dangerous weapon", but he accepted there was no intention to kill.

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