A THUG who sprayed 'acid' in the face of a man before fleeing to Spain has been jailed for more than eight years.

David Hudson forced his way into an address in Danbury Close, Leigh before spraying a corrosive liquid from a bottle into the face of a 29-year-old James Sanders.

Three days earlier Hudson had confronted the victim outside his home and assaulted him.

Following the attack, Hudson fled the country to Spain but resurfaced when he visited the British Consulate in Barcelona on August 16, 2018, claiming he was homeless and wanted to travel back to the UK.

He was arrested at Stansted Airport on his arrival back into the country a week later.

The victim picked him out in an identity procedure as the person who carried out the attack and he was charged with throwing a corrosive fluid with intent to burn, maim, disfigure, disable, or cause grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary and ABH.

The 53-year-old had denied the charges, but was found guilty by a jury on February 8.

He was jailed at Basildon Crown Court today for a total of eight yeas and nine months despite claims from his solicitor he posed a very low risk of danger to the public.

Joy Lewis, mitigating for Hudson, said: “The seriousness of the incident is reflected in the throwing of a corrosive substance. It only just makes it into an aggravated burglary.

“The defendant had been following the complainant home, and the assault took place just as he passed the threshold into his home. If Mr Hudson had caught up to him a few steps before, it would not have taken place in his home. He is likely to face a prison sentence today, and when he eventually is released from prison, he will be an elderly man.

“He has not offended for 20 years prior to the incident, and he may not be able to see his terminally ill mother again.

“When he does leave prison, he will pose little danger to anyone.”

Addressing Hudson, Recorder Jeremy Brier said his offending was so serious “only a custodial sentence can be justified”.

Hudson received eight years and six months for aggravated burglary, and six years for throwing a corrosive substance to run concurrently.

He received three months for actual bodily harm to run consecutively, totalling eight years nine months in prison. Despite having blurry vision for three days after the attack, on October 5, 2017, Mr Sanders did not suffer any permanent damage