A young thug has been branded “a dangerous individual” after threatening a woman with a machete and squirting ammonia into her eyes.
Mohammed Susso, 20, left the victim in “excruciating pain” and with long-term damage to the cornea of her eye.
Susso pulled a machete from the waistband of his trousers and threatened the woman with it in her car. A court heard when she desperately tried to fight back, Susso ran from the vehicle and retrieved a bottle he had hidden in the trees nearby.
He then returned and squirted the contents of the bottle, later found to be ammonia, in the victim’s eyes before stealing her vehicle, Manchester Evening News reports.
Susso was sentenced to 10 years and two months in prison after pleading guilty to assault and robbery on Friday.
Police commended the woman’s bravery throughout the investigation, which started days after the attack in Salford, Greater Manchester.
The attack happened in June last year, and has since left the victim low on confidence and hope.
In a powerful victim impact statement, the woman said her independence had been “completely taken away”.
“I feel like my independence has been completely taken away from me, due not only to the damage caused to my eyes but also the feeling of having no control over what happened,” she said.
“I feel completely overwhelmed with everything and I never felt like that prior to the attack as I have always been self-sufficient.
“I feel as though my life has been on hold ever since June last year. I now just want to move past it and I am hoping that following the conclusion of court proceedings that this is something that I will be able to do.”
Since sentencing, police described Susso, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, as “extremely callous”.
Detective Constable Amy Yates, of Greater Manchester Constabulary, said: “This was a shockingly violent attack and I commend the victim for her bravery throughout this investigation.
“I don’t underestimate the courage this must have taken and I’m thankful that she felt able to assist with enquiries and, ultimately, pave the way for this result.
“Though this attack will inevitably have a lasting impact on the victim, I truly hope the sentencing provides her with a sense of justice and relief.
“Susso has shown a lack of remorse throughout the investigation and the subsequent court proceedings. He is an extremely callous and dangerous individual, who will now thankfully be spending a significant period of time behind bars.
“Hopefully he will use this time to reflect on the unnecessary suffering he has caused the victim and the life-long impact that his actions have had on her.”
