Video footage of the incident also showed a man throwing urine over the victim in front of shocked witnesses in Liverpool city centreHorrifying moment substance is thrown over person in Liverpool city centre
A woman who threw bleach into a man’s face in Liverpool city centre has been spared jail. Annie Woods hurled the corrosive liquid over her victim in a “targeted attack” off Bold Street earlier this year.
Video footage of the incident, seen by the ECHO, showed a woman in an Adanola hoodie and a face mask shouting at a man in a brown tracksuit before she and another male, wearing shorts and a t-shirt, were seen to approach him and throw a liquid over him from plastic bottles. They were then captured telling the person filming the clip to put their phone down before walking away in the direction of Bold Street.
Christy Hegarty and Annie Woods were subsequently charged with throwing a corrosive fluid, namely bleach, with intent to do grievous bodily harm in connection with the altercation. However, the latter, of Minto Close in Kensington, ultimately admitted the lesser count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Sarah Gruffydd, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that the incident ultimately led to complainant Craig Rowlands sustaining only minor injuries, as well as damaging his clothing. Woods, who was defended by Jim Smith, was meanwhile said to suffer from conditions including autism spectrum disorder, dyspraxia, dyslexia, a sleeping disorder, eczema and partial sightedness.
The 22-year-old was handed a 12-month community order this afternoon, Tuesday. She was also told to complete 50 hours of unpaid work, a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days and a mental health treatment requirement.
Sentencing, Judge Ian Unsworth KC said: “I tell you from the outset that you are not going to prison today. Clearly, this was a worrying incident, but it was an incident which, thankfully, was short lived and did not cause injuries that were of the more serious kind, albeit a very worrying incident for the victim.
Annie Woods outside Liverpool Crown Court(Image: Liverpool Echo)
“Clearly, this was in a public place, and there were members of the public present and, of course, another involved. However, there is a wealth of mitigation available to you. You are still a young person. Equally, you are someone who has never been in trouble before. You are of previous good character. I accept that you are remorseful.
“You are someone who is the victim of crime as well. There is material before me which supports the assertions that Mr Smith has made regarding issues of domestic abuse. It is clear to me that you are someone who was not the prime mover in this case and, in the circumstances you have described to your probation officer, someone who was very much following others.”
Annie Woods outside Liverpool Crown Court(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Woods was also given a restraining order which will ban her from contacting Mr Rowlands for the next five years. Hegarty previously admitted one count of assault by beating, having thrown urine over the same victim.
The 23-year-old, of Doulton Street in St Helens, was handed 12 weeks behind bars by the same court on Thursday last week. However, he has since been released from prison, having been remanded into custody following the incident.
Christy Hegarty, of Doulton Street in St Helens, aged 23
The ECHO previously reported that police, fire crews and paramedics attended the scene, at the junction with Newington, shortly before 2pm on April 29 after receiving reports of a man and a woman squirting an unknown liquid towards a male. Tests were later said to have found this substance to be bleach, with the victim being taken to hospital following the incident but subsequently discharged.