Four members of a gang have been sentenced to life imprisonment for their involvement in a series of violent chemical attacks, including one that tragically resulted in the death of a man and left a woman severely injured, losing an eye. The horrifying events took place in the Gateshead and South Tyneside areas during the summer of 2023.

The group, consisting of Youssef Wynne, Kenneth Fawcett, John Wandless, and Josh Hawthorn, engaged in a criminal campaign to dominate the local drugs market. Their methods included throwing ammonia on their victims, leading to severe and sometimes irreversible injuries.

Andy Foster, 26, was one of the victims of these brutal attacks and suffered a fatal encounter on August 20, 2023. The ammonia thrown at him caused him to stop breathing and subsequently have a heart attack, resulting in his death near his home in Wrekenton.

During the trial at Newcastle Crown Court, it was revealed that this was the fourth in a series of assaults aimed at instilling fear and asserting control over drug trafficking in the area. Other victims of the gang’s ruthless tactics were targeted in their homes, suffering life-altering injuries due to the chemical attacks.

The mastermind behind these attacks, Youssef Wynne, was identified as the leader of the gang and sentenced to serve a minimum of 33 years. His associate, Kenneth Fawcett, described as Wynne’s “enforcer,” will serve at least 32 years. John Wandless and Josh Hawthorn received minimum sentences of 31 and 22 years, respectively.

The judge condemned the actions of the defendants, noting that the use of hazardous chemicals in their crimes added a layer of cruelty and terror to their offences. The court heard poignant victim impact statements that painted a grim picture of the aftermath of the violence, highlighting the profound physical and emotional scars left on the victims and their families.