Crooks have two new weapons ... vehicles and acid. And I know just how terrifying the latter is. The SNP have got to stop this madness in its tracks ... acid attack journalist urges government action

AMBER Rudd is going after cowardly criminals who use corrosive substances as a weapon to blind, maim and destroy lives.

The Home Secretary wants anyone caught twice carrying acid in public to receive a mandatory six-month prison sentence and to ban under-18s from buying it.

As someone who has suffered the terror of sulphuric acid being hurled in my face, I welcome any action against the perpetrators.

My attacker was William "Basil" Burns, an amoral hitman on the payroll of a millionaire criminal who for years has seethed at my journalistic interest in his own activities.

Burns came to my front door two days before Christmas, dressed as a postman and armed with acid and a steak knife.

While the planning was meticulous, the execution was botched.

The acid hit my face but the knife was dropped and, when police arrived, Burns was trapped underneath me with a sore face and whining about his broken dentures.

I was lucky. The quick application of water on my burning face saved my sight and prevented any permanent injury.

The horrific scars inflicted on others - an increasingly common sight in news reports - are a reminder of my extreme good fortune.

But political posturing about getting tough on acid attacks, which have more than doubled in five years, should be viewed with caution.

Rudd's tub-thumping soundbites at the Conservative conference are just hollow words and will only become real when, or if, the resultant consultation process leads to new laws being passed.

Victims in Scotland should not get their hopes up as any such legislation will only apply in England and Wales because justice is devolved to Holyrood.

Last week, I asked Nicola Sturgeon's Government whether they would follow Rudd's lead. The reply was less than encouraging.

Apparently, any information relating to Scotland from the UK consultation "will be carefully considered" by SNP Justice Secretary Michael Matheson. In other words, there are no plans to do anything.

It is clear that the agenda has been driven by the rising number of attacks in London, where 458 were recorded last year.

However, it would be foolish and complacent for Matheson to view it as a problem unique to London street gangs.

My attack came from the sewer of organised crime. In recent years, robust policing and lengthy jail sentences have led to fewer criminals taking the risk of carrying knives and guns on our streets.

The unintended consequence of this crackdown has been the adoption by organised criminals of two new weapons - vehicles and acid.

Vehicles are now commonly used, often to devastating effect. After all, you can't be jailed for being in possession of a car.

Against this backdrop, it is vital that the Scottish Government act.

While no one wants knee-jerk legislation for the sake of being seen to be doing something, Matheson must realise that acid attacks do not stop at the Border.

But he has a big problem. How can he emulate mandatory six-month sentences for those twice caught carrying acid given the SNP's intention to effectively abolish all jail terms of less than 12 months?

Last year in Scotland, just more than 11,000 criminals were given prison sentences of up to a year and they included some convicted of attempted murder, sex attacks, serious assault and robbery.

The SNP's soft-touch approach is repellent to law-abiding people who put their faith in the justice system being able to keep their families safe.

The first thing Matheson needs to do is stop this madness in its tracks. Instead of going easy on criminals, he should get tough.

He may not like dancing to Westminster's tune but, if mandatory six-month sentences are introduced for acid thugs south of the Border, he should swallow his pride and do the same.

Even more importantly, the Justice Secretary could end the culture of dishonesty at the heart of sentencing.

When my attacker Burns was convicted, the judiciary publicly hailed his "extended sentence" of 15 years. I later discovered he could be back on the streets of Paisley in as little as four years.

Every day, the public are spun similar lies about sentencing but such systemic dishonesty does nothing but erode trust in the Crown Office, courts and judiciary. Over to you, Mr Matheson.

It would be foolish to view it as a problem unique to street gangs in London

Report by Russell Findlay

First published by the Sunday Mail newspaper on October 29, 2017:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/gangland-acid-attack-victim-speaks-11425992