Four members of a drug gang have been found guilty of orchestrating four ammonia attacks in Gateshead, north-east England. Andrew Foster, 26, was sprayed in the face at his home and later died after suffering a fatal asthma attack in August last year. The killers were also found guilty of three other similar chemical attacks, one of which resulted in a woman losing an eye. The drug dealers will be sentenced on 26 July.
According to prosecutors, Jarrow-based drug dealer Youssef Wynne orchestrated the four “taxing raids” on rival drug dealers between 9 and 20 August 2020, carried out by his “enforcer” Paul Fawcett. Fawcett’s friend, John Wandless, assisted in the final three attacks, one of which killed Foster. Meanwhile, Josh Hawthorn was found guilty of helping to arrange the fatal raid. Lawyers had suggested there was no actual evidence of their involvement in the attacks.
The court heard that Foster bought drugs from Wynne and made cannabis sweets which he sold around the area. His partner Katie Harrison said she was in bed when she heard Foster screaming and shouting he could not breathe. She called 999 and tried to perform CPR but could “tell from his face” that he was dead. Foster’s mother, Karen, described him as “a big softy” who loved life. Lawyers for the four men said in a statement after the death that he was a “kind and funny boy who was so loved” and had “his whole life left ahead of him”.
Speaking after the verdict, Det Insp Tam Fowler of Northumbria Police, described it as a “shocking and orchestrated crime spree” with the four acting together to “intimidate and cause serious harm”. He added that “using a household item such as ammonia can still very much amount to murder
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