‘I was blinded in an acid attack in a case of mistaken identity – I live with it every day’

A father-of-two left blind in one eye after an unprovoked acid attack says he lives with the scars ‘every day’, as new figures reveal thousands of offenses in just three years.

Andreas Christopheros, 40, had lived on what he describes as a ‘very safe’ street in Truro, Cornwall, until he opened his front door to a stranger holding a pint of sulphuric acid.

Working from home with his then-wife Pia and their 18-month-old son Theo, Andreas recalls hearing the man say: ‘This is for you mate’ — before throwing the corrosive liquid in his face.

The attack was a case of mistaken identity.

The attacker, David Phillips, had driven 300 miles from Hastings, wrongly believing Andreas had assaulted a member of his family.

More than 11 years on, Andreas fears such crimes are becoming disturbingly commonplace.

‘I live with it every day,’ he said.

‘You see it in the mirror morning and night. There’s no escaping it. You either let it break you or you own it.’

A recent investigation by Legal Expert found police forces recorded more than 2,600 corrosive substance offenses between 2023 and 2025.

More than 800 of those cases were closed without a suspect ever being identified.

‘It’s terrifying,’ said Andreas, now a UK ambassador for charity Face Forward International.

‘You have people out there who think they can use acid as a weapon and usually get away with it.’

He believes the frequency of attacks has dulled public reaction.

‘Acid crime doesn’t make the news anymore because it’s been normalised,’ he said.
‘The UK has become associated with acid violence — like it’s an everyday thing. That’s shocking.’

The figures hit close to home.

Devon and Cornwall Police recorded 91 acid-related offenses over the same three-year period — roughly two to three attacks a month.

A third of those cases saw no suspect identified, while only five resulted in a charge or summons.

Many investigations collapsed due to lack of evidence or victims declining to proceed.

Andreas also has another grim link to the crime — he once lived on the same Plymouth street where Danny Cahalane was fatally attacked with acid in 2025.

Cahalane died after suffering catastrophic burns when attackers threw sulphuric acid over him during a planned burglary linked to organized crime.

Despite everything, Andreas insists Cornwall remains safe.

‘People laugh when I say it, but I live on a very safe street,’ he said.
‘Cornwall is one of the safest places in the country — which makes these figures even more concerning.’

He says the impact of an acid attack extends far beyond the victim.

‘It has a massive ripple effect,’ he said.
‘My family, my friends — they went through enormous pain. I often say I had the easy job. I was unconscious. They had to deal with everything.’

Before the attack, Andreas ran nine companies and worked up to 80 hours a week.

He now runs two businesses, focusing on spending time with his sons, Theo, 12, and Lazarus, eight.

Andreas has chosen to campaign for change — and is strongly critical of the justice system.

His attacker was originally jailed for life but had his sentence reduced to 16 years on appeal, with parole possible after eight. He was moved to an open prison after just five-and-a-half years.

‘The punishment does not fit the crime,’ Andreas said.
‘Anyone using acid as a weapon should face life with a minimum of 20 years.’

He added: ‘He’s not quite a free man — but he’s kind of a free man. Meanwhile I’m still dealing with the consequences every day.’

Andreas believes sentencing is influenced by prison costs — and points to inconsistencies.

He cited the case of illegal streaming operator Mark Gould, who received an 11-year sentence — rising to 21 years if he fails to repay millions.

‘How is someone selling dodgy TV getting more prison time than someone throwing acid in someone’s face?’ he said.

He has also criticised the government’s ‘two-strike’ policy on carrying acid.

‘Why twice?’ he said.

‘There’s no reason anyone should be carrying acid in an unmarked bottle.’

Despite the bleak statistics, Andreas has a message for other victims — particularly those without justice.

‘It’s a very difficult pill to swallow,’ he said.
‘You have to rebuild your life in small steps — little pieces of normality each day.’

He added: ‘It will never be the same. But you can build a new life — and eventually, you start surviving.’

Ultimately, Andreas believes meaningful change will only come when those in power fully grasp the impact of such attacks.

‘Judges and politicians need to understand what acid crime does,’ he said.
‘Until it happens close to them, I don’t think anything will change. It’s a horrible thought — but I think it’s the reality.’

Ellie Lamey, a specialist at Legal Expert, said the figures highlight a ‘deeply concerning lack of accountability’.

‘When perpetrators go unidentified, victims are denied justice and closure,’ she said.

‘But survivors should know they are not alone — and support and compensation may still be available.’