'' I STOPPED BY THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND SOMEONE CAME OUT AND POURED ME ACID''

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Darren Pidgeon suffered third-degree burns

A driver needed a skin graft after suffering serious chemical burns in an unprovoked acid attack by a 'complete stranger' - a court has heard.
Darren Pidgeon spent 24 days in hospital following the attack, requiring skin grafts to repair third degree burns caused by "extreme" acid


Ashley Russell, 30, of Basildon, Essex, and Christina Storey, 32, of Rayleigh, Essex, each deny throwing a corrosive fluid at Mr Pidgeon.
Storey also denies aiding and abetting an offender.
Opening the trial at Basildon Crown Court, prosecutor Greg Unwin said Mr Pidgeon was attacked at around 11.20pm on June 3, 2014.

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Darren Pidgeon pictured before the attack

The court heard he had stopped at traffic lights while driving south towards Thundersley, Essex, when he noticed a red Rover, driven by Storey, pulling alongside him.
As he pulled off the Rover drove in front of him, although it was not a "near miss", Mr Unwin said.

Mr Pidgeon, 29, then turned into a cul-de-sac, to turn around, but saw a car pull in behind him as he tried to reverse.

The court heard Mr Pidgeon was attacked in Kingsmere, Thundersley, Essex

Mr Unwin said: "He was essentially trapped, blocked in by this other vehicle. The prosecution say this is the same car.
"A passenger of the red car then got out of the passenger door and ran round to Mr Pidgeon's door, where he had the window wound down, and he said words to the effect of 'have you got a problem?'."

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Ashley Russell and Christina Storey are accused of throwing the corrosive fluid

It is alleged Russell then sprayed the victim in the face and also punched him in the head.
Police were called after Mr Pidgeon knocked on the door of a nearby resident.

Mr Unwin told the court: "Darren Pidgeon was in excruciating agony, his eye was watering, some of the substance had gone into one ear. He was confused and disorientated.
"Mr Pidgeon has no idea why he was attacked.