Acid attack victim may lose sight in one eye

AN acid attack on a young man on his doorstep is feared to have left him blind in one eye and needing plastic surgery.

The 29-year-old had a “corrosive” substance thrown in his face at his door of his flat in Bathgate, West Lothian.

The victim, who was left writhing in agony, was taken to St John’s Hospital in nearby Livingston where it is expected he will need skin grafts and emergency treatment to save the damaged eye.

An eyewitness said: “He had nasty facial injuries.

“One of his eyes was clouded and it looked like he might have been blinded.”

Local resident Mark Eccles, 36, said: “It’s one thing using your fists but it’s something else to do something like that to someone.”

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: “Police are following a positive line of inquiry following an incident in Bathgate on Wednesday in which a man was assaulted.

“Officers were called to the address in Weaver Place at about 10.10pm, where they found a man within who had been assaulted and sprayed with a corrosive substance.

“He was taken to St John’s Hospital in Livingston where he is currently being treated for his injuries.”