A mother has described the pain of a chemical attack as 'worse than childbirth' after her former friend squirted ammonia in her eyes, leaving her permanently blind in one eye and with severely impaired vision in the other. The attack occurred in Sunderland on November 20, 2025, and the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been left with life-changing injuries.
Attack Details
Donna English, 41, of Carly Road, Sunderland, was found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent at Newcastle Crown Court. The court heard that English and the victim had been friends and even lived together before falling out over an undisclosed dispute about money. English agreed to meet the victim at the back of her house, but when the victim arrived, English sprayed her in the eyes with a corrosive chemical, believed to be ammonia. English was heard saying, 'I will get you in the f****** eyes,' as she pursued the victim down the street and continued the attack.
Victim's Suffering
In a harrowing victim impact statement, the woman said: 'The assault has changed my life forever. I can't go out alone because it's too dangerous. I don't have enough sight to do so safely.' She described falling when trying to go out alone and needing a carer for simple tasks. She cannot use an oven or hob because she cannot see the dials, and she cannot make hot drinks because she cannot tell when a cup is full. She added: 'I will never be able to work or earn money for myself. I will always have to rely on the state and others to help me.'
The victim also spoke of the emotional toll: 'I was kind to Donna and supported her. I have flashbacks of the attack. I wake up having a panic attack hearing Donna's voice saying 'I will get you in the f****** eyes'.' She has undergone 'excruciating' surgery on her eyes and is not deemed safe to have unsupervised contact with her own children. 'I will not be able to see them properly and that's the thing that breaks my heart. She has destroyed my life and it's had a lasting impact on my children and my family,' she said.
Sentencing
Judge Tom Moran sentenced English to 13 years in prison. He noted the premeditation of the attack, saying: 'Once you knew she was coming, you armed yourself with this liquid, intending to do what you did. To that extent, there was an element of premeditation.' He also highlighted English's attempts to cover her tracks by sending bogus messages suggesting the victim was the aggressor. English showed no remorse or empathy, continuing to deny the offence.
In mitigation, the court heard that English has a background of heroin misuse and that five of her former partners have died, including one recently. The liquid used was never formally identified as police did not forensically test it.
Police Response
Detective Constable Catherine Jowett of Northumbria Police commended the victim's bravery and said: 'Hopefully, now that her attacker has been jailed she can begin to move on with her life although we appreciate that permanent damage has been caused to her. Donna English's actions were reprehensible and completely unacceptable. There is absolutely no place whatsoever for violence in the communities we serve.'
