Reward of £5,000 is offered in hunt for man who blinded teenager, 19, in unprovoked acid attack – as CCTV shows moment suspect punched victim in street three months earlier
- 19-year-old boy left blind after having acid thrown in his face on December 7
- His 25-year-old friend was also covered in the acid but has not been left blinded
- Crimestoppers have offered £5,000 reward to anyone who helps catch attacker
- CCTV appears to show attacker punching one of the victims three months prior
A £5,000 reward has been offered to anyone who helps catch a man who blinded a teenager in an unprovoked acid attack.
A 19-year-old boy and his friend, 25, were talking towards a zebra crossing in Thornton Heath, Corydon, on December 7, 2020, at around 8.10am when a man threw a cup of acid in their faces.
The attacker then continued in the same direction before disappearing down a side street.
One of the two victims had been punched by the man only three months earlier when he called at their address claiming to have a letter for him.
Crimestoppers have offered a £5,000 for information that leads to the arrest of a suspect (pictured) who threw acid in the faces of two men, permanently blinding one of them, in Croydon on December 7, 2020
The suspect is described as a white or Asian male, slim built with a black hooded jacket, and dark coloured trousers and shoes or boots. Pictured: The suspect punches one of the two victims three months before the acid attack took place
When he followed him into the street, the suspect punched him in the face twice with a bicycle chain wrapped around his fist.
Both boys were hospitalised following the acid attack, with the 19-year-old victim now suffering from permanent blindness.
A £5,000 reward has been offered by Crimestoppers for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.
The suspect is described as a white or Asian male, slim built with a black hooded jacket, and dark coloured trousers and shoes or boots.
CCTV footage released by police showed one of the two victims being punched by the man only three months earlier when he called at his address claiming to have a letter for him
Three months before the two victims had acid thrown in their faces, one of them was punched by the same attacker
On both occasions he was wearing a light blue medical mask and a dark coloured baseball cap.
Crimestoppers’ London Regional Manager, Alexa Loukas, said: ‘This horrific incident has left a young man with life-changing injuries, both victims traumatised and has shocked the community of Thornton Heath in Croydon.
‘The individual behind the acid attack could strike again, so it’s critical that anyone who knows or has suspicions about who was involved contacts our charity 100 per cent anonymously.
‘We need the public’s help to bring those involved to justice and help the victim to recover and the community to feel a dangerous individual is no longer a threat.
‘Do you have information about the man in the CCTV images? Every piece of information may be vital to this investigation.’
Speaking about the unprovoked acid attack, Detective Constable Dimitri Savathrakis said: ‘This was a violent and unprovoked attack on two innocent victims and we are doing everything in our power to bring the person responsible to justice.
‘The victims were left shaken, injured and their lives changed forever as a result of this individuals actions.’
Anyone with information about the attack is encouraged to come forward anonymously to Crimestoppers.