A footballer needed skin grafts after a neighbour poured a powerful chemical into the muddy boots he had left outside their flats, a jury was told on Monday, March 15, 2021.
Jordan Coomes had been playing for ten minutes when he suffered an acute burning pain as the strong alkaline fluid seeped through his socks and onto his feet, turning them black.
It is alleged that his neighbour Roderick Waller, now 66, was unhappy that the footballer’s muddy boots and kit were outside his (Coomes’) front door in a small communal area between their two homes.
Prosecutor Michael Shaw told St Albans Crown Court that Hertfordshire police searched Mr Waller’s flat and found a clear jar of a fluid with a white residue.
When it was analysed it was found to be a very strong alkaline, which was “very likely to have been the substance applied,” he said.
Roderick Waller, now of Bailey House, Valence Drive, Cheshunt, Herts denies causing grievous bodily harm between November 12 and 15, 2017.
Mr Coomes’ then partner Georgia Mills told the court that they moved in to the rented flat opposite Mr Waller in Stanstead Road, Hoddesdon, Herts in March 2017.
Speaking via a video link, she said: “I wouldn’t say I spoke to Roderick Waller. I tried to be pleasant when we crossed paths. I would say ‘hello.’ There was nothing in response.”
She told the jury her partner played football for two teams – on a Sunday and a Wednesday.
She went on: “Jordan would normally bring the boots inside, but the week before it had been raining. They were very muddy and I asked him to leave them outside.”
Ms Mills said that he had also left his top and shorts outside the door on the Sunday. On the Monday she noticed “sploshes” of something on the door mat and the bottom of the door, but thought no more of it.
She said Jordan went out to play football again on the Wednesday, picking up his boots from outside their flat.
She said: “He got back and showed me his feet. He said ‘Look what’s happened.’
“It was pretty much black and looked like it was eating away at itself. It was rotting. It smelt like burning – like a really strong bleach smell.”
Jordan was taken to the Princess Alexandra hospital in Harlow where he was given antibiotics and returned to the flat. In the early hours of the morning the pain became so bad he was taken to a specialist burns unit at the Brookfield Hospital in Chelmsford.
Doctors found five areas of skin damage with deep burns to his left foot.
Under cross-examination by Paul Lazerous, for Roderick Waller, she said they never left the communal door to the two flats on the latch.
Jordan Coomes, who also give evidence over the link, said he had probably said “hello” to Roderick Waller once for the whole time they were there. He said they never left the door on the catch, saying they had an intercom to let people in.
Opening the case, Mr Shaw told the jury: “It seems Mr Waller took against him leaving muddy boots outside the front door.
“It seemed he had poured a very, very corrosive alkaline substance into the boots. When he started to run it seeped through his socks and he required a skin graft.
“Having seized boots the police sent them off for analysis. Experts found a white residue which was pronounced on seams of the boots with a PH value 14.
“A warrant was issued to search Mr Waller’s flat and a clear jar of a fluid with a white residue was found. It was analysed and was found to be a strong alkaline, very likely the substance he applied.”
The prosecutor told the jury: “We say you will be sure the only real possible author of this unpleasant and warped neighbour dispute was Mr Waller.”
When the police interviewed Roderick Waller he denied he had done anything.
Giving evidence Roderick Waller said he had lived alone in the flat, which was one of two above a shop, for around 17 years.
He said he did not have much to do with the couple and thought “the bloke lived there by himself.” On the three or four occasions when he bumped into them he said he said: ‘Hello.’
He said he was not upset about the football boots or other items being left in the communal hall area. “They were right outside their door,” he said.
The defendant said the communal door was left on the latch now and again.
Asked about the fluid found on his window sill he said: “The jar was used for putting cleaning fluid down the sink and drains.” He said it had been there for years.
Mr Lazerous asked him if he had any reason to injure Mr Coomes he replied: “None a all.”
