TWO thugs who threw sulphuric acid over a teenager in a shop have been jailed for a total of 17-and-a-half years.

Drug dealer Leban Elmi, 23, of Kirkwood Road, Nunhead, in south east London, and Archie Harding, 19, of Kursaal Way, Southend, carried out the vicious attack in the North Road Supermarket, in North Road, Westcliff, on June 30.

Elmi was jailed for a total of 12-and-a-half years at Southend Crown Court, while Harding was sent to a young offenders’ institution for five years.

Elmi, who has nine convictions for 20 offences, including battery and supplying class A drugs, had denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent but was found guilty after a trial.

He admitted possession of an offensive weapon- namely a wheel lock- which he swung at 19-year-old victim Joe Paffy’s head after Harding threw the acid.

Harding admitted applying a corrosive fluid, criminal damage and affray.

Elmi was also jailed for possession with intent to supply 26.3 g of crack cocaine, which was found in his backside after he was shot near the Malvern flats tower block, off Coleman Street, Southend, on April 18.

Carolyn Gardiner, prosecuting, said: “Joe Paffy was taken for treatment. His clothes that he was wearing disintegrated from the acid.

“He suffered significant burns and had to have skin grafts that were perfomed under general anaesthetic.

“He provided police with medical records but didn’t want to be involved in proceedings out of fear.”

The drugs were removed from Elmi while he was under general anaesthetic having shotgun pellets removed from his stomach at a London hospital. The package had been spotted in x-rays. 

Gavin Burell, mitigating for Elmi, said: “He was asked by certain members of society to transfer a package.

“He had some trouble removing the package from his anus. He was trying to drink heavily in an effort to remove it.

“He was told to get the package out and was then shot.

“He had an older brother who was involved in drugs. He died as a result of gang activity.

“Some may say that the defendant being shot earlier this year was his just deserts for him being involved in activity like this.”

Echo:

The court heard Harding had a troubled upbringing and has one conviction for battery.

Daniel Wright, mitigating for Harding, said: “He’s a young man who accepts his responsibility. He’s disgusted by his actions.

“He is remorseful for the pain he has caused the victim and regrets the shame it has brought his family.”

Judge John Coffey said the sentences reflect the fact that even though Harding threw the acid, Elmi was in charge.

He said: “It was you, Harding, who threw the sulphuric acid. You were part of the gang culture in which Leban Elmi was a prominent figure.

“Involvement in that culture inevitably leads to serious offending.”

Speaking of Elmi, who refused to leave his prison cell for the hearing, Judge Coffey said: “Leban Elmi was the leader, he was the one in charge.

“Given the age difference and the records of offending I have no doubt that he was the prime mover.

“The injuries could have been more serious, but that it wasn’t so is no thanks to either defendant.

“Both defendants showed total disregard for the other people in the shop and how they felt.

“Elmi continued with the attack by swinging the wheel lock at Paffy."

Elmi was handed nine years for GBH with intent, 18 months for affray and 12 weeks for the offensive weapon, to run at the same time.

He also got three-and-a-half years for the drugs, to run consecutively.

Harding was sentenced to five years for throwing corrosive fluid, three months for criminal damage and ten months for affray, to run at the same time.

Following the sentencing, investigating officer DS Steve Robson of the Essex and Kent Serious Crime Directorate, said: "We believe this incident was gang related.

"The victim in this case was known to Elmi and Harding and they planned their attack on him, targeting him in a local convenience store when he was least expecting it.

"They threw acid at their victim with absolutely no regard for the fact that he would be left with devastating and lifelong injuries but also no regard for the innocent members of the public who were also present in the shop at the time and could have been injured.

"The severity of today’s sentence reflects the serious and callous nature of their crime and I hope it serves as a robust warning to others that Essex Police will not tolerate gang-related crime or any sort of violent behaviour in our county."