Acid attacker is in open jail while I serve life sentence
A PROPERTY developer left scarred for life after a pint of sulphuric acid was thrown over him in a case of mistaken identity says he feels ‘sickened’ after his attacker was released to an open prison.
Andreas Christopheros is ‘horrified’ to learn of the ‘lenient’ treatment given to David Phillips – who served fewer than six years – after judges ruled he was ‘not a danger to the public’.
Phillips travelled more than 300 miles from his home in Hastings, East Sussex, to Truro, Cornwall, seeking revenge against someone he believed had assaulted a member of his family – but turned up at the wrong address in December 2014.
Mr Christopheros, 35, who has a young son Theo with wife Pia, answered the door thinking it was a Christmas parcel. He was left blind in one eye and with horrendous burns.
Phillips (pictured), 48, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was jailed for life at Truro crown court in 2015.
His sentence was later reduced on appeal to 16 years. Mr Christopheros said: ‘They let me know last Monday he has now been moved to an open prison. How can he do what he did and only spend five and a half years behind actual bars? I will have to continue having surgery for the best part of my life while he can apply for a job and start to rebuild his life.
‘He did what he did and the police did their job, while the NHS saved my life. But the judges did not do what they should (have done) – and give out a sentence to fit the crime.’
Mr Christopheros added: ‘I do not shoulder anger towards Phillips. My anger is towards the people in the justice system who have let me down.’