A WOMAN has been convicted at York Crown Court of squirting ammonia into a man’s eyes.

Naomi Robinson wept in the dock yesterday (Friday, March 16) after a jury found her guilty of causing actual bodily harm and also of carrying an offensive weapon.

Her partner Philip Noble, 37, of Chapelfields Road, Acomb, who had been accused of hitting the same man on the back with a hammer and of carrying a knife, was cleared of the same two charges.

He hugged Robinson before leaving the dock a free man.

The Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Batty QC, adjourned the case against Robinson for pre-sentence reports to be prepared, saying there was obviously a background to the case and he had not yet decided what action to take.

Robinson, 37, of Chapelfields Road, Acomb, will appear in court again on Friday, April 13, to be sentenced, and was granted bail on condition she obey a curfew from 11pm to 6am.

The judge said her actions had caused the victim, Billy-Jo Hannigan, to suffer problems including burning eyes but there could have been "absolutely appalling" consequences.

“Throwing ammonia in the face of this man could have blinded him,” he said.

During the trial, the jury was told that Robinson twice threw ammonia at Mr Hannigan in the street in Chapelfields, York, on April 28, leaving him with burning eyes and struggling to breathe.

She denied the allegations and alleged Mr Hannigan hit her so hard with something similar to an extending washing line pole that he broke her arm. Mr Hannigan denied the allegations against him.

The jury heard Mr Hannigan was arrested on suspicion of assaulting Robinson but was released without charge. All the police evidence was undisputed.

The jury heard officers saw Mr Hannigan bathing his eyes when they answered a 999 call that evening. He had a red face and bloodshot eyes and a small cut to his back.

Robinson, whom police found at her home, had a broken arm.