William Deo [2019] EWCA Crim 1388

The applicant was convicted of two offences of throwing a corrosive fluid over a person, two offences of robbery, grievous bodily harm with intent, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was sentenced to a total of 15 years’ imprisonment.

The applicant was enlisted by a friend to take revenge on the two victims as a result of a commercial deal that had gone wrong. Along with co-accused the incident involved industrial strength ammonia being sprayed into the faces of the two victims who were then repeatedly stamped on and punched; ammonia was also forcibly poured into the mouth of one of the victims. He was seriously injured having been forced to swallow a significant amount of acid. The robberies reflected the stealing by force of two backpacks from the two victims with a value over £12,000.

Held: it was very much to the applicant’s good fortune that he wasn’t found to be dangerous. The sentence of 15 years following a trial given his record, notwithstanding his age, cannot arguably be said to be manifestly excessive.

The application was refused.