Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Man jailed for 20 years over acid attack

A 53-YEAR-OLD Indian-origin man has been jailed for 20 years by a UK court for leaving his neighbour in east London with "catastrophic injuries" after throwing acid over him during an argument.

Santokh Johal must serve a minimum of 15 years behind bars with the remainder on licence or parole, a judge ruled at Snaresbrook Crown Court this week.


He was found guilty by a jury at the same court earlier this year of throwing a corrosive fluid with intent to burn, maim, disfigure or to do grievous bodily harm.

"This attack was horrific and left the victim with substantial injuries which will serve as a constant reminder for the rest of his life,” said Detective Constable Jamie Howden, Metropolitan Police investigating officer from the North East Area's CID.

"Although nothing will heal those scars, the victim can take comfort from knowing that justice has been served," he said, after Johal's sentencing on Tuesday (10).

Police were called by the unnamed victim, aged in his 30s, on January 4, 2019, who said that Johal was outside his house in Leyton swearing and threatening to stab him.

While still on the phone to police, the victim opened his lounge window. As soon as Johal saw the window open, he picked up a bottle that he had brought with him and squirted the substance at the victim.

He then left the scene, leaving the victim in excruciating pain as the substance immediately began burning his skin, the Met Police said.

Police officers, the London Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade attended and found the victim with grey marks over his upper body and arms. The victim was immediately put in the shower and was hosed off with water.

The victim was taken to hospital where he underwent skin graft surgery on around 20 per cent of his body. He continues to attend a specialist burns hospital once a month for rehabilitation and therapy – the expected time frame for this treatment is indefinite, the police said.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said: "Since this incident, I have not been able to sleep because I often see the defendant in my dreams trying to finish me off. I am constantly watching over my shoulder and if I see someone that looks similar to Johal, I panic and am extremely frightened despite the fact I know he is in custody.

"I will be scarred for life. My body does not feel like my body anymore. Even in hot weather, I am having to dress in long sleeves and jackets just to cover my injuries."

Specialist officers with knowledge of chemical substances attended the scene and examined the substance, which was identified as being 91 per cent sulphuric acid – it was measured at pH1 level or as highly acidic.

Johal, who attacked his victim following a long-standing neighbour dispute, was arrested on the day of the attack in January and charged the next day.

"As far as I am concerned, Johal has got what he wanted and he has ruined me for life. I have tried to come to terms with everything over the last eight months but still, I am haunted by the defendant and have had to accept that he has shown no remorse for invading my life and my existence,” the victim said.

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less