Chilling moment teen sprayed in face with ammonia and bleach in doorstep attack

30 December 2023 , 13:56

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This is the terrifying moment a teenage girl was sprayed in the face with ammonia and bleach in a random attack on her doorstep.

Shannelle Farrier was left in excruciating pain and needed her eyes washed out with several litres of water at hospital after brute David Nicholson threw the chemicals in her face. The shocking assault was captured on CCTV in the hall way of the 19-year-old's flat in Newcastle.

The teen had just returned home from a night out in the city centre in December last year with her pal when sinister Nicholson and two acquaintances knocked on her door. Stranger Nicholson asked for a cigarette and was given one by Shannelle's friend before the group barged into her home.

She told them to leave, but the 21-year-old squirted a substance from a Fairy liquid bottle into her face, twice. Petrified Shannelle immediately felt a burning sensation and started to scream before falling unconscious while the trio sprinted off.

She said: "I felt burning in my eyes and my mouth. I was screaming in pain yelling that something was in my eyes. I honestly thought that I was going to die and screaming out for help. It was instant, I didn't know what was happening. They did it without rhyme or reason.

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

Shannelle Farrier, 19, spent last Christmas worrying she would lose her eyesight (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)

"There was a strong smell of bleach. We thought it was an acid attack. I eventually ended up unconscious. My friend had rang an ambulance who turned up in protective masks and hauled me in the shower to wash off as much of the substance as possible."

Shannelle was rushed to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary where her eyes were swilled with litres of water to return them to a normal Ph level. She spent a total of five hours being treated before she returned home. She said: "I felt violated. The attack happened in my own home.

Creep David Nicholson sprayed her in the face with ammonia and bleach (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)

Nicholson avoided prison despite the horrific incident (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)

"By the time I was released from hospital, it was the early hours in the morning so we went back to the flat to get some sleep, but I was terrified they were still around. We had to pull the mattress into the living room as the wall next to the bedroom was covered in chemicals.

"After that, I went to stay with my mother for months. For me, last Christmas was totally ruined. I spent the entire time worrying about my sight. I couldn't leave my home, I had to quit my college course as I was too nervous to be outside. I was constantly looking over my shoulder.

Shannelle passed out during the attack (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)

"I spent last Christmas not knowing what the outcome was going to be if it was going to lose my vision or if there was going be permanent damage." Nicholson, of Hauxley Drive, Gosforth, Newcastle, was arrested a week after the attack. He later admitted assault. He was sentenced to 20 months, suspended for two years with rehabilitation requirements and an alcohol abstinence requirement at Newcastle Crown Court earlier this week (December 20).

The thug was also given a five-year restraining order to protect the victim. Shannelle has now slammed the sentence, claiming he got off lightly after he intended to cause harm. She added: "He took the bottle of ammonia and bleach with the intention of using it on anyone that night. If it wasn't me it would have been someone else. He has done it to harm someone. He was willing to harm someone." The teen has now fully recovered from her injuries and is looking to move on with her life.

Shannelle's eyes had to be washed out with several litres of water at hospital (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)

She said: "I'm moving out of the area and I'm starting a new job in January. My eyes are fully healed. It's a year on from it all and I'm ready to start my new life. The court case has given me the closure to move on from it all."

Judge Gavin Doig said: "She asked you to leave, as she was perfectly entitled to. CCTV shows you and the other male left and he handed you a bottle. You returned to the door and you attracted her attention and when she came to the door you squirted her in the face with something she believed to be ammonia.

The teen has now fully recovered from her injuries and is looking to move on with her life (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)

"It was something which clearly had a very high PH level and caused immediate, excruciating pain for her. She went to push you away and you squirted her again. It was incredibly fortunate for her and of course for you, that the injuries caused were not more serious. She was taken to hospital and her eyes were washed out with several litres of water until the Ph level dropped to a more normal level."

The male who handed him the bottle that was used that day was sentenced at an earlier hearing.