Truro acid attack: Man admits Andreas Christopheros assault

Andreas Christopheros was critically injured in the attack

A man has admitted carrying out an acid attack on a businessman in Cornwall.

Andreas Christopheros was critically injured when sulphuric acid was thrown over him outside his home in Truro in December 2014.

David Phillips, 49, from Barley Lane, Hastings, Sussex, admitted causing grievous bodily harm.

Truro Crown Court heard Mr Christopheros was a victim of mistaken identity in an attempted revenge attack by Phillips.

Phillips' wife, Nicole Phillips, 45, of the same address, was to be tried on a charge perverting the course of justice. Her trial was halted, but the judge ruled the charge should remain on file.

Severely disfigured

Mr Christopheros was attacked on the doorstep of his house at Carrine Road at about 16:00 GMT on 9 December 2014.

He was left with a severe disfigurement of his face, burns to his body and arms, lost the sight in one eye and was partially blinded in the other.

A director of nine companies, Mr Christopheros organises the Run To The Sun custom car event, which attracts about 100,000 car fans every year to Newquay in Cornwall.

He is also a director of Chase 3000, a car rally across Europe planned for 2015.

Police said Phillips was motivated by revenge but turned up at the wrong address and, as a result, a totally innocent man was left "really damaged".

Andreas Christopheros was attacked on the doorstep of is home

Supt Dave Thorn of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "We think that David Phillips felt that someone in his family had been severely hurt and that, as a result of that, he was taking action against who he thought had done it.

"But we are able to show that Andreas Christopheros had nothing to do with what David Phillips thought he had done."

He added the victim's life had "tragically changed as a result of it, and that's a lot to cope with".

Phillips is due to be sentenced on 9 October.