Thug jailed for ammonia attack on ex-lover's daughter in Glasgow

A thug who sprayed ammonia in the face of his ex-lover's daughter has been jailed for four and a half years. Alexander Schofield pounced on Deborah Welsh in a street in Possilpark, Glasgow last September.

A judge heard how the pair had a “toxic relationship” prior to the daylight attack.

Miss Welsh had to see an eye specialist, but luckily escaped being seriously hurt.

Schofield pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman to her injury.

The High Court in Glasgow heard the 45 year-old already had a lengthy record for violence.

Lord Mulholland branded the crime “reprehensible”.

The hearing was told Schofield was the former partner of Miss Welsh's mother.

But, he was at the woman's house when Miss Welsh and her sister turned up to visit their mum last September 25.

Prosecutor Blair Speed said Miss Welsh called Schofield “an a**e” and walked out.

As Miss Welsh and her sister left, Schofield stormed off after them.

Mr Speed: “They could see he was standing at the gate with a knife in one hand and a plastic bottle in the other.

“Their mother shouted to warn the bottle contained ammonia.”

Schofield then walked up to Miss Welsh, squeezed the bottle with liquid hitting her eye and hair.

Mr Speed: “Schofield also brandished a knife stating: 'Don't make me use this'.”

Schofield was later found with a bottle of “essential power household ammonia”.

The court heard Miss Welsh's eye was washed out at hospital after being referred to a specialist.

Mr Speed said she fortunately now has now vision problems or pain.

Sarah Livingstone, defending, said the daughters of Schofield's ex “did not like him”.

Lord Mulholland told the thug: “You squirted ammonia in the woman's eye and face.

“Thankfully, she did not have significant damage to her eye.

“This was reprehensible conduct. You also have an appalling record.''