Thugs in balaclavas attacked men with knives and ‘ammonia’

A pair of thugs brutally attacked two men in a flat, threatening to spray one with ammonia.

Andrew Hosie, 36, and Stephen Timmons, 27, stormed into the property in Cranhill, Glasgow, on September 10 and turned on Ronald McVey and Paul Mullen.

The victims were at a friend’s home when the attackers and an accomplice burst in.

Prosecutor Tracey Brown told the High Court in Glasgow: “Everyone was wearing balaclavas which covered their faces but their eyes were visible.

“They were in possession of knives. One also had an unknown liquid in a spray bottle.

“The men started shouting, cursing and demanding that the men lie down on the ground.”

Mr. McVey suffered a cut on his forehead.

Mr Mullen managed to escape, but not before being stabbed in the lower chest while escaping.

Miss Brown: “One of the males turned around with the spray bottle in his hand and said to Ronald McVey, ‘Go fuck or I’ll spray you with ammonia.’

“He then sprayed the liquid in his face before grabbing a mobile phone and leaving.”

The police were alerted by another resident. Mr Mullen was rushed to hospital after suffering a collapsed lung.

Fortunately, he was able to leave the hospital after treatment on September 19.

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Mr McVey, meanwhile, has been scarred for life after being cut.

The liquid sprayed at him was not a chemical and was thought to be just water.

CCTV helped nab the attackers because of their ‘distinctive’ clothing and bags they were carrying.

Hosie and Timmons, through their lawyers Allan MacLeod and Graeme Brown, have pleaded guilty to the attacks.

Both victims were attacked to their serious injuries and permanent disfigurement, while Mr Mullen was attacked at the risk of his life.

The criminals together had almost forty previous convictions.

Both ignored community restitution orders they issued at the time for previous crimes.

The attacks are said to have taken place following a disagreement over a previous issue.

Lord Arthurson imprisoned Hosie for six years and Timmons for five and a half years.

The judge: “These were concerted and clearly planned attacks on your victims.”