The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A Spalding man attacked with bleach in his home has called for swift justice in the hope it deters further break-ins.
On Wednesday afternoon, at least one man broke into a home on Helmsley Way and attacked the man, who was asleep at the time.
The man (31), who wishes to remain anonymous, said he has had trouble sleeping after the incident, being wary of every noise in the house.
The break-in happened at around 3.30pm when the man was awoken by intruders.
He said: “I heard muffled sounds and footsteps, then the door slammed open and I saw a figure dressed in black.
“He was wearing a black hoodie, sunglasses, a bandana covering his face like a snood. The only thing I saw was the bridge of his nose was white so immediately I knew it was a white person.”
Faced with an unexpected and unfamiliar situation, the man jumped into action.
The victim added: “When I saw the figure, I started screaming at him, effing and blinding.
“I was obviously hoping the loud noises would deter him but this was all instinct. For ten or 20 seconds my instincts kicked in, my brain wasn’t in gear.”
It was this quick action that caused the intruder to retaliate, before fleeing.
He continued: “Because I was swearing so much, and at this point I was sitting up straight in bed, he squirted a water pistol of bleach at me.
“Immediately when it touched my face it started to sting.
“I jumped out of bed and started chasing him. He ran down the stairs and escaped out the back door. I then saw him climbing over the fence.
“I didn’t chase after him because there was so much broken glass on the floor from the smashed back door.”
The man was treated at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital after the attack.
“The white of my eye is red and swollen. I’m very fortunate it wasn’t directly at the pupil and it was lucky it wasn’t anything stronger than bleach,” the victim said.
He said this is a warning that if left unchecked, the problem could escalate.
He added: “Hopefully there’s community spirit in catching these people. That’s what I want. I just hope it doesn’t happen to anyone else.
“Maybe they’ll get confidence from this, that’s what I don’t want. If they escalate it might do more damage to some other people.
“Imagine if people round here were copying the acid attacks that happen in London,” he said.
The fact that the attack happened during the day has also worried the victim.
He said: “It’s scary that it happened in broad daylight. You don’t expect this of Spalding.”
Overall he is philosophical and is calling for action.
“It’s just bad luck really I think. I’m thankful it didn’t happen to anyone else.”
“I just want justice for this. I want to find out who did it.”
A spokesman for Lincolnshire Police said their investigations are ongoing.
