Man murdered by chemical attack gang - prosecutors

Andrew Foster suffered a fatal asthma attack after being sprayed in the face with an ammonia-type chemical, a court has heard

A drugs gang murdered a man by spraying an ammonia-type chemical in his face while trying to steal cannabis sweets from him, a court has heard.

Andrew Foster, 26, died after his home in Wrekenton, Gateshead, was targeted in a so-called "taxing" raid in August, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

In the previous 11 days, ringleader Youssef Wynne, 39, and three associates had targeted three other Tyneside homes with "corrosive liquid" attacks, with one woman losing an eye, prosecutors said.

Mr Wynne and three other men deny charges including murder.

In his opening speech, prosecutor Mark McKone KC said Mr Wynne was the head of a gang which was "taxing" other dealers, meaning they would steal from competitors and scare them off from future dealing.

Between 9 and 20 August, Mr Wynne organised four such raids on homes in South Shields, Hebburn, Jarrow and Wrekenton, Mr McKone said.

His associate Josh Hawthorn, 22, of Ashfield, Jarrow, assisted in arranging the final fatal attack on Mr Foster, the prosecutor said.

Four men are on trial for murder at Newcastle Crown Court

Mr Wynne's "enforcer" Paul Fawcett, 33, carried out all the attacks, aided on the last three occasions by John Wandless, 33, the prosecutor added.

The jury heard one woman lost an eye and two men needed medical treatment after being sprayed in the face with ammonia "or similar" in the first three attacks.

The victim of the first on Masefield Drive, South Shields, on 9 August, said he "felt a horrendous burning and stinging in his eyes and face" and it had had a "detrimental effect on his life", Mr McKone said.

All four men deny murdering Mr Foster and robbing him of cannabis edibles.

Mr Wynne, of Wuppertal Court, Jarrow, also denies an assault causing actual bodily harm on Mr Foster 11 months before the fatal attack.

Mr Wynne, Mr Fawcett and Mr Wandless deny attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to one man, and causing grievous bodily harm to the woman who lost an eye.

Mr Fawcett, of Balkwell Avenue, North Shields, and Mr Wynne also deny attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to a third man.

Mr Wandless, of no fixed abode, admitted handling a stolen VW Golf which prosecutors said was used to get to and from three of the attacks.

He also admitted an arson offence relating to the car being burnt out the day after Mr Foster died.

The trial, which is estimated to last up to five weeks, continues.