Ammonia attack gang of four must serve at least 118 years behind bars for murdering Andrew Foster

A gang of four murderers must serve at least 118 years behind bars for killing Andrew Foster during a spate of chemical attacks.

Mr Foster died after being squirted with ammonia at his home during a series of attacks in Gateshead and South Tyneside which also caused a woman to lose an eye. Newcastle Crown Court heard Youssef Wynne was a drug dealer and enforcer Kenneth Fawcett, John Wandless and Josh Hawthorn worked for him. A judge said they carried out “taxing” attacks to protect the “lucrative” criminal trade in drugs.

During a trial earlier this year, all four were convicted of murdering 26-year-old Mr Foster and robbing him of cannabis edibles and a series of other offences including another ammonia attack which caused a woman to lose an eye. Now they have been jailed for life with Wynne told he must serve a minimum of 33 years before he has any chance of parole, while Fawcett must do 32 years, Wandless 31 years and Hawthorn 22 years.

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Mr Justice Dove told them: “As a result of the verdicts of the jury you have all been found guilty of offences which undoubtedly form part of a campaign of inflicting violence to protect the trade in illegal drugs, a trade in which you all played your part.

“The trade in illegal drugs is a curse of the communities we all live in. I have no doubt each of the violent offences of which you were convicted were in support of the trade in the supply of illegal drugs in which you were all involved.”

Of Andrew’s murder, the judge said: “His death was cruel and terrifying. He asphyxiated as a result of being sprayed with ammonia. When it stopped his breathing, he suffered a catastrophic brain injury and death.

“Unable to breathe, he collapsed in front of his partner and she had to witness him lose the fight for his life. The impact of your attack on Andrew Foster had devastating, irreversible consequences.

“He was a much-loved young man, a gentle, funny, caring partner and son with many years of his life ahead of him. All of the possibilities of his future life cut off by the attack in which you all participated.

“His death has created a void in the life of his mother and partner which can never be filled. No one who heard the evidence of his mother and partner could fail to be moved by their description of the harm you caused to them.

“The attack on Andrew Foster was the last in a sequence of attacks in which the same hazardous chemical weapon was used.”

The judge added: “The murder was committed during an attack in which you intended to protect and enforce the drugs trade business operated by Youssef Wynne, in which Josh Hawthorn played an active part as a dealer.”

The judge said of Wynne: “I have no doubt you were the leader in relation to the attacks. They were your idea, you were the person directing what took place.

“This was a campaign of violence designed to bring fear and retribution or reprisals to those who crossed you in your drugs trade.”

The judge said Fawcett was Wynne’s “willing enforcer”. He had previously been given an indefinite sentence for public protection in 2010 for GBH with intent.

Wynne, 39, of Wuppertal Court, Jarrow, Fawcett, 33, of Balkwell Avenue, North Shields, Wandless, 33, of no fixed address, and Hawthorn, 22, of Ashfield, Jarrow, were found guilty of all counts they were charged with, including murdering and robbing Mr Foster at his home in Wrekenton Fawcett and Wandless were physically present at the fatal attack and Wynne and Hawthorn were involved in organising it.

During the trial, Mark McKone KC, prosecuting, told jurors: "On the night of the 20th of August last year, Andrew Foster was at home with his partner when two men entered his home and attacked him by throwing a chemical in his face. As a result, he couldn’t breathe. He suffered a severe respiratory attack, he had a heart attack and died.

"The chemical attack upon Mr Foster was the fourth similar chemical attack in that general area in just 11 days, between 9th and 20th of August. The prosecution say that four separate victims were attacked at their homes in the Gateshead or South Shields areas by ammonia, or a similar corrosive liquid, being thrown or sprayed into their faces.

"Andrew Foster died, one woman lost an eye and two other men needed medical treatment. The prosecution say that the violence was connected to drug dealing.

"The prosecution say that the four defendants were part of a scheme to tax other drug dealers. Taxing is a slang word in the drugs world for dealers stealing drugs from another dealer and, at the same time, scaring off the competition from future drug dealing."

The prosecution do not say that Wynne and Hawthorn were present at any of the four attacks. But Mr McKone said: "The prosecution do say that Wynne was involved in organising all the attacks and that Hawthorn was also involved in organising the fourth and fatal attack. The attacks were carried out, we submit, for the benefit of Wynne and Hawthorn."

Andrew's partner saw him holding his face and hear him shouting ‘It’s ammonia, I can’t breathe’ after he had been attacked.

The quartet of killers were convicted of robbery, relating to the stealing of cannabis edibles, after Mr Foster had been attacked with ammonia. Wynne was also convicted of assaulting Mr Foster 11 months before he died in an alleged dispute over drugs.

Wynne, Fawcett and Wandless were also convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Nicola Dixon on August 16 last year. She lost an eye as a consequence of the attack.

Wynne and Fawcett were also found guilty of attempting to cause GBH with intent on a man on August 9 2023. The man, who lived in South Shields with his children, was squirted in the face with ammonia on August 9 by by Fawcett. The prosecution say that Wynne asked Fawcett to carry out this attack.

Wynne, Fawcett and Wandless were convicted of attempting to cause GBH with intent on another man on August 12 last year. He was at a house in Hebburn when he was attacked. He sprayed in the face with ammonia and required hospital treatment. He had difficulty breathing, his eyes were stinging and his lips were swollen. Wandless had pleaded to handling a stolen VW Golf and arson by burning it out after it was used in three of the incidents.

Defence barristers said there was no intention to kill.