THE number of acid attacks in Essex is on the rise.
An investigation has found Essex Police dealt with 28 incidents of violence involving acid, ammonia, bleach or a chemical between April 2014 and November 2015.
This compares to 12 between April 2013 and March 2014.
Wayne Ingold, 57, who was a victim of an acid attack in 2014, said he believed criminals were using corrosive substances as a "cheaper alternative" to guns and knives.
The dad-of-two had sulphuric acid thrown at his face at his block of flats in Witham, in a case of mistaken identity.
He said: "There has to be a stronger deterrent because these crimes are on the rise. It's got ridiculous now. One day someone will get killed.
"We had gun crime and knife crime - acid seems to be a cheaper alternative. How would these people feel if a member of their family was the victim?"
The information comes from an investigation by the Press Association, which revealed there were 503 offences between 2012 and November last year.
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