Truro acid attack survivor "sickened" as attacker is moved to open prison

Andreas Christopheros was left blind in one eye and scarred for life

Author: Sarah YeomanPublished 17th Sep 2020
Last updated 17th Sep 2020

An acid attack survivor from Cornwall says he is "sickened" as his attacker is moved to an open prison.

Just days before Christmas in December 2014, Andreas Christopheros had a pint of sulphuric acid thrown over his face and torso at home in Truro.

A stranger had turned up and knocked on his door, saying "this is for you mate" before throwing the substance at him.

It was a case of mistaken identity.

The dad-of-two has been left blind in one eye, scarred for life and needing surgery for years.

"He was stood two steps down from my doorstep so he threw it in an upright motion so the acid came up, hit the ceiling above me, raining down my back.

"My t-shirt disintegrated from top to bottom and was just hanging on my arms like a waistcoat. That was the moment I knew it was acid."

Andreas Christopheros

His attacker, David Phillips, had driven 300 miles from Hastings in Sussex to launch the revenge attack - but he got the wrong man.

Phillips was given a life sentence with a minimum term of eight years in 2015 - but the life sentence was quashed a year later.

Judges instead imposed a 16-year sentence and said he would be eligible for parole after he had served eight.

Mr Christopheros has told Sky News that he feels 'let down' by the UK justice system after learning that Phillips has been moved to an open prison and is applying for day release.

"It became very obvious that in the UK, you can throw a pint of sulphuric acid in someone's face, ruin their life, cost them physically, emotionally, mentally, cost the state hundreds of thousands if not millions in hospital fees and police investigation, and only spend five and a half years behind actual bars. It just doesn't add up.

"How can Phillips be out? Yes he's at an open prison, but he can go out and enjoy the sunshine, go out and spend time with his family.

"He an even go out and get a job and start working again, when I'm still picking up the pieces of what he did to me."

Andreas Christopheros

The government says that since this "appalling case" it has brought in minimum custodial sentences.

"Acid attacks devastate lives and leave victims with both emotional and physical scars and our thoughts remain with Mr Christopheros.

"Since this appalling case, we have made it an offence to carry these substances in public, banned their sale to under-18s, and brought in minimum custodial sentences to ensure the cowards who use acids as weapons face the full force of the law."

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson