Colindale: Mystery of motive for 'horrendous' acid attack on family

A second man has been jailed following an acid attack for which police still do not know the motive.

On July 12 2021, two men drove to an address in Colindale, Barnet, where acid was thrown at a woman - and hit two other members of a family, including a 10-year-old girl.

Jadiel Williams-Douglas, 35, of Stockingstone Road, Luton, was sentenced on Monday to 27 months’ imprisonment at Aylesbury Crown Court after pleading guilty to three counts of assisting an offender.

He acted as a driver for Denico Raymond, 32, of Hitchin Road, Luton, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of nine years after pleading guilty of two counts and GBH and one count of ABH at Harrow Crown Court on December 8 2022.

The court heard this week that the pair travelled from Luton to Colindale armed with a milk bottle containing sulphuric acid. When a woman answered the door, Raymond threw the acid at her. It also hit a man and a ten-year-old girl who were inside.

Raymond was driven away by Williams-Douglas. All three victims were taken to hospital for treatment to their burns before being discharged. A number of police officers were treated after attending the scene.

During the investigation that followed, CCTV footage was found showing Raymond going into a shop to purchase water to douse burns he had sustained. A PCSO recognised him from the footage and he was arrested. Items of clothing Raymond wore during the attack were recovered at his address.

Williams-Douglas was identified after being linked to the car the pair had used to flee the scene.

Detective Inspector Jack Stilwell, who led the investigation, said: “This sentencing comes at the end of a long investigation and I would like to thank the officers who have be involved with the case for their dedication. It also would not have been possible to secure these convictions without the bravery of the victims.

“Neither Raymond or Williams-Douglas ever revealed why they chose to attack this family and we have yet to uncover a link to the address; it may have been a case of mistaken identity but unsurprisingly they have not had the courage to admit this.

"Although this investigation is over, the victims will live on with the physical and psychological trauma of this horrendous attack.”