![\"Gilson](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_Imagine-that-on-his-skin-Thugs-cruel-boasts-before-throwing-acid-in-the-face-of-teenager.jpg\")
Gilson Martins(Image: Greater Manchester Police)<\/p>\nAfter the attack, Gilson Martin bragged it had ‘gone down a treat’Gilson Martins(Image: Greater Manchester Police)<\/p>\n
A thug launched corrosive acid in the face of a 16-year-old boy in an \u2018insidious\u2019 revenge attack. Gilson Martins approached the lad in Stockport<\/a> in March last year before demanding his coat off him. He then threw the substance into his face and fled.<\/p>\n Nearby, awaiting co-defendant Joanne Edwards, 45, picked him up and drove him from the scene on Brandon Road. In the hours after the attack, he boasted it had \u2018gone down a treat\u2019.<\/p>\n The 16-year-old went to a friend\u2019s house to shower off the acid before going to hospital. He was left with a large chemical burn to his neck and face.<\/p>\n Days later, Martins then hunted down the 21-year-old son of Edwards, who had overheard his plans to attack the boy, during which he showed off the acid and exclaimed: \u201cImagine that on his skin? It’s going to melt his face off.”<\/p>\n Minshull Street Crown Court heard he kicked in the back door of his house whilst the man barricaded himself in his bedroom. Martins then made threats to stab him and throw acid on him before stating he would \u2018carve his name into him\u2019.<\/p>\n When 23-year-old Martins was finally caught up with, police found drugs, a balaclava and a bottle of hydrofluoric acid.<\/p>\n Jailing him, Recorder David Temkin KC said: \u201cThis is an extremely serious case resulting in an attack on a 16-year-old boy in revenge.\u201d<\/p>\n The court heard that Martins dealt drugs to the boy before and planned to attack him with the acid. He showed Edwards\u2019 son the acid, as well as the burns on his legs he had got from it when he had spilt it on himself.<\/p>\n \u201cYou also demonstrated the toxic nature of it by pouring it onto a piece of paper which burned,\u201d said the judge. \u201cYou said this about the attack: \u201cImagine that on his skin? It\u2019s going to melt his face off.\u201d<\/p>\n Later that night, on March 23 last year, he asked Edwards to call the boy to ask him to pick up some drugs. She was unaware of the attack that had been planned, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n Edwards drove Martins to the area before he walked off to meet the boy. Immediately after the attack he stole drugs from him before fleeing.<\/p>\n The judge found that Edwards would have been aware that there had been an attack as she drove Martins away. She has since pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.<\/p>\n The teenager was left in immediate pain as a result of the acid, and his jacket had begun to \u2018bubble\u2019. He remained in hospital for a number of weeks and has been left permanently scarred.<\/p>\n Martins initially claimed the lad was carrying a knife, but this was not accepted by prosecutors or the judge. He has since accepted this was not true, the court heard.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was an unprovoked, planned, targeted attack on a young man who was not carrying a knife,\u201d said the judge.<\/p>\n Later, Martins boasted to Edwards\u2019 son that \u2018they are definitely not getting me\u2019. He was \u2018fearful\u2019 of Martins and had cut ties with his mum as a result of the attack, the judge said.<\/p>\n Knowing the man had heard his plans, Martins repeatedly called and messaged him before going to his house on April 4. After breaking into the house, Martins issued a number of threats and said anyone that gets him would \u2018get a grand\u2019.<\/p>\n After he eventually left the house, the man discovered holes in his bedroom door which was suggested to have been made by Martins.<\/p>\n The defendant was arrested on April 11, and found to have another bottle of acid, 30 wraps of heroin and cocaine, a bag of cannabis, two mobile phones, a balaclava and cash.<\/p>\n In a statement, Edwards\u2019 son said he had to move from the area and \u2018start his whole life from scratch\u2019.<\/p>\n Martins was said to have played for \u2018well known football clubs\u2019 in Yorkshire, but left the area after he was stabbed. He was selling drugs to fuel his drug habit at the time of the attack. Edwards said in mitigation that she \u2018should have gone to the police\u2019 and was remorseful.<\/p>\n Martins, of Ashton<\/a> Street, Rochdale<\/a>, was jailed for eight years and two months, for robbery, two counts of possession of a corrosive substance, intimidation and drugs offences.<\/p>\n Edwards, of Dartmouth Crescent, Stockport, was handed a community order, 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a nine month drug programme.<\/p>\n Speaking after the hearing, Laura Keegan, a Senior Crown prosecutor for CPS North West said: \u201cGilson Martins\u2019 insidious acid attack left the young victim scarred and needing hospital treatment \u2013 and today\u2019s sentence reflects the severity of his crimes.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1744781474_337_0_Imagine-that-on-his-skin-Thugs-cruel-boasts-before-throwing-acid-in-the-face-of-teenager.jpg\")
The acid-filled bottle(Image: Greater Manchester Police)<\/p>\n![\"Gilson](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1744781474_334_0_Imagine-that-on-his-skin-Thugs-cruel-boasts-before-throwing-acid-in-the-face-of-teenager.jpg\")
Gilson Martins(Image: Greater Manchester Police)<\/p>\n