Shocking footage shows Dagenham teen's unprovoked Ockenden station acid attack on group of friends
This footage shows the horrific moment a 17-year-old sprayed a group of five friends with acid in a completely unprovoked attack.
Alexander Bassey, from Dagenham, was today sentenced to eight years in prison at Basildon Crown Court, after pleading guilty to three charges of GBH and two of attempted GBH.
In the early hours of May 22, Bassey approached the pals who were sat on the platform of Ockenden station while they waited for their train home after a night out.
After trying to persuade them to board his train, he walked quickly towards the group - aged from 16 to 18 - and produced a sports bottle from behind his back containing a highly corrosive alkaline substance.
He sprayed his victims as they attempted to cover their faces and flee, screaming in agony, before running back onto the train to escape as it left the station.
One of the victims, Lee Elliot, 17, has been left with permanent scarring and may never regain sight in his left eye.
Three others, Tyrone Terry, 17, Billy Milne, 17, and Conner Leeman, 16, suffered burns to their faces while Kane Richards, 18, had his hand burnt.
Senior investigating officer Detective Sergeant Gail McKemmie, said: “This was a vicious and cowardly attack carried out without a single ounce of care. Bassey had no apparent motive for the attack and showed absolutely no remorse when questioned by police. As such, he will now spend the next eight years in prison.
“Attacks like these are incredibly rare and we will always pursue offenders relentlessly to ensure convictions and make sure dangerous offenders are taken off the streets.
“I hope this sentence sends a very clear message: we will simply never stand for violence and aggression on the railway and will stop at nothing to bring violent offenders to justice.”
Jason Corden-Bowen, District Crown Prosecutor from West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The five victims were subjected to an unprovoked and callous attack which has left some of them with life-changing injuries.
“The teenage defendant in this case went out that evening with a bottle of highly corrosive industrial strength drain cleaner with the clear intention of harming someone."
ArticleShocking footage shows teen's unprovoked acid attack on group of palsOckenden