War hero tells how he escaped serial acid attacker after being held hostage in his Ilford home

A war hero today told how he helped detectives bring a serial acid attacker’s campaign of “indiscriminate” violence to an end after being robbed in his own home over breakfast.

Gerard Whelan, 45, has been jailed for 18 years after he armed himself with a screwdriver and corrosive liquid to target 10 victims in three days last December, threatening to kill them if they did not comply with his demands.

Second World War veteran Albert Fox, 90, was “held prisoner” when Whelan broke into his home in Ilford at 7.45am on December 12 and eventually escaped with £190.

Mr Fox told the Standard: “He was very calm, he knew what he was doing but I was so lucky to not be hurt. He slammed the screwdriver through a wardrobe as he got more angry and frustrated, and sprayed acid on my wall to show he meant business.

“After keeping me prisoner for nearly an hour, I pretended I was going to clean up but ran out into the street screaming ‘burglar, burglar, help’.

“I saw him spray this disability mini-van driver who tried to help me and a mother taking her child to school to get her car.”

Whelan attempted to rob several car users as he fled, spraying some with the substance when they resisted.

The next day Whelan attacked a 70-year-old woman in her bedroom, squirting her with acid causing burns to her legs, arm and face which required two months of hospital treatment. He threatened to kill her before snatching a bangle and wedding ring.

The woman told the Standard: “The pain was unimaginable it was burning, I was howling. It was the worst thing to ever happen to me. He is such a dangerous man, he should have been kept in prison for his whole life. My scars will last a lifetime.”

The court heard that Whelan continued his crime spree on Christmas Day. He impersonated an undercover police officer and threatened a driver. Then he attacked another man with a screwdriver and assaulted another couple.

Whelan, of Penfold Place, Paddington, admitted 12 offences including aggravated burglary and causing grievous bodily harm with intent at Wood Green crown court.

Mr Fox said: “He deserves the jail time he got ... we all feel much safer with him behind bars.”