Gilson Martin, 23, bragged it had ‘gone down a treat’ after the attack
A thug threw corrosive acid into the face of a 16-year-old boy in an “insidious” revenge attack. In March last year, Gilson Martins, 23, approached the teenager in Stockport and demanded his coat off him before throwing the substance in his face and fleeing.
Co-defendant Joanne Edwards, 45, waited for Martins, picked him up and drove him from the scene on Brandon Road. Afterwards, he boasted it had “gone down a treat” and said the police were never going to get him.
The victim went to a friend’s house to shower off the acid and then went to hospital. He suffered a large chemical burn to his neck and face, reports the Manchester Evening News.
A few days later, Martins found his co-defendant’s 21-year-old son, who had overheard his plans for the attack where he showed off the acid and said: “Imagine that on his skin? It’s going to melt his face off.”
Minshull Street Crown Court heard he kicked in the back door of his house whilst the man barricaded himself in his bedroom. The defendant threatened to stab him and throw acid on him and said he would “carve his name into him”.
When police found Martins they found drugs, a balaclava and a bottle of hydrofluoric acid. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here.
Sentencing him, Recorder David Temkin KC said: “This is an extremely serious case resulting in an attack on a 16-year-old boy in revenge.”
The court heard Martins had previously dealt drugs to the boy and the acid attack was pre-planned. He showed Edwards’ son the acid and the burns on his legs from when he spilt it on himself.
“You also demonstrated the toxic nature of it by pouring it onto a piece of paper which burned,” said the judge. “You said this about the attack: ‘Imagine that on his skin? It’s going to melt his face off’.”
Ahead of the attack, on March 23 last year, he asked Edwards to phone the boy and ask him to pick up some drugs. Prosecutors said Edwards was not aware the attack had been planned.
She then drove Martins to the area before he walked off to meet the boy. Directly after the attack he stole drugs from his victim and then fled.
The judge found that Edwards would have been aware there had been an attack as she drove Martins away. She pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.
The 16-year-old was immediately in pain from the acid, and his jacket began to “bubble”. He stayed in hospital for several of weeks and has sustained permanent scarring.
Initially, Martins claimed the teenager had a knife but this was refuted by prosecutors and the judge. The court heard that since then he has accepted this was not true.
The judge said: “This was an unprovoked, planned, targeted attack on a young man who was not carrying a knife.”
After the attack, Martins bragged to Edwards’ son that “they are definitely not getting me”. The judge said the son was ‘fearful’ of Martins and had cut ties with his mum because of the attack.
Because he knew Edwards’ son had heard the plan, Martins repeatedly tried to call and message him before going to his house on April 4. Martins broke into the house and issued a number of threats and said anyone that gets him would “get a grand”.
When he finally left the house, the man found holes in his bedroom door which was suggested were made by Martins.
Martins was arrested on April 11, and found to have another bottle of acid, 30 wraps of heroin and cocaine, a bag of cannabis, two mobile phones, a balaclava and cash.
In a statement, Edwards’ son said he had to move from the area and “start his whole life from scratch”.
The court heard Martins was said to have played for “well known football clubs” in Yorkshire, but had left the area when he was stabbed. At the time of the attack he was selling drugs to fuel his drug habit.
In mitigation, Edwards said she “should have gone to the police” and was remorseful.
Martins, of Ashton Street, Rochdale, was jailed for eight years and two months, for robbery, two counts of possession of a corrosive substance, intimidation and drugs offences.
Edwards, of Dartmouth Crescent, Stockport, was given a community order, 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a nine month drug programme.
After the hearing, Laura Keegan, a Senior Crown prosecutor for CPS North West said: “Gilson Martins’ insidious acid attack left the young victim scarred and needing hospital treatment – and today’s sentence reflects the severity of his crimes.
“The Crown Prosecution Service worked closely with Greater Manchester Police to build a strong case, piecing together eyewitness evidence, CCTV footage and cell site evidence, showing where Martins’ mobile phone was at key times.
“The strength of the evidence was such that Martins and Edwards, who assisted him to flee the scene, pleaded guilty.
“We will never allow attacks using corrosive substances on our streets to go unpunished – and today’s sentence should serve as a reminder to would-be criminals that we will pursue them with the full force of the law.”
Detective Constable Heather Parke, from GMP’s Stockport district, said: “The effects of attacks involving corrosive substances are well-known, and can result in severe, life-changing injuries or even death.
“Using them in attacks is utterly vile and I am glad Martins is now behind bars for his vicious assault. His victim received injuries from which he is still suffering, and has already received numerous treatments.
“We have zero tolerance for these sort of crimes, and we put considerable resources into ensuring that Martins was arrested, charged, and sentenced. He now has a long time to think about his actions inside a prison cell.”