Alexander Bassey , 17, got off a train at Ockendon station in Essex before attacking the boys

A callous teenager was sentenced to eight years in prison after he showered five friends with an alkaline liquid in a random attack likened to a scene from a 'horror film'.

Alexander Bassey, 17, got off a train at Ockendon station in Essex and approached the friends who were sitting at the platform waiting to go home after a party.

After challenging the youngsters - aged from 16 to 18 - he pulled a sports bottle from behind his back before squirting the highly corrosive alkaline substance backwards and forwards over them.

The innocent friends, who had said 'we don't want any trouble', were left screaming in agony as the alkaline burned through their clothes and onto their skin leaving life-changing injuries.

The unprovoked attack was captured on CCTV which was released today for the first time.

Alexander Bassey (pictured right), 17, got off a train at Ockendon station in Essex and approached the friends who were sitting at the platform waiting to go home after a party

After challenging the youngsters - aged from 16 to 18 - he pulled a sports bottle from behind his back before squirting the highly corrosive alkaline substance

Bassey, from Dagenham, then cooly re-joined his 20-strong group of friends who could be seen laughing and joking after the random attack in the early hours of Sunday, May 22 this year.

Lee Elliot, 17, suffered the worst burns and may never fully regain his sight.

Tyrone Terry, also 17, suffered burns to his mouth and tongue but sat in court today to face his attacker.

Other victims Billy Milne, 17, and Connor Leeman, 16, suffered burns to their faces while 18-year-old Kane Richards' hand was burnt.

Bassey admitted three counts of GBH with intent and two of attempted GBH with intent at an earlier hearing.

Bassey admitted three counts of GBH with intent and two of attempted GBH with intent

Images were released of three of the boys after they were squirted with the corrosive liquid

Wearing a grey tracksuit, he appeared at Basildon Crown Court today for sentencing.

James Dick prosecuting, told the court Lee Elliot was so badly hurt he feared he was going to die.

He said: 'Alexander Bassey walked up to the boys who remained sat at the platform.

'He got to the stage where he was four-feet away and said "What are you saying? Where are you from?"

'Lee Elliot remembers saying 'we don't want any trouble'.

'Two witnesses recall Alexander Bassey saying "well f*** you". He had a bottle in his right hand and he shook it and squeezed it first of all at head height straight in Lee Elliot's face.

'He moved the bottle along the row of boys, backwards and forwards five times.

'It was initially thought to be acid but tests later showed the liquid was a very strong alkaline.

'The liquid went straight into Lee Elliot's eyes and he felt a terrible burning and the others shouted "acid".

James Dick, prosecuting, said Lee Elliot was so badly hurt he thought he was going to die

The panicking friends pleaded for station staff to let them into pour water on their burns but station staff turned them away

'Tyrone Terry notes how Lee Elliot was panicking and thought he was going to die'.

At an earlier hearing the court heard how one of the victims described the ordeal being 'like in a horror film'.

Bassey threw the bottle to the ground and got back on the Barking-bound train.

'There appears no apparent reason or motive for the attack - as far as the boys on the platform were concerned, they were minding their own business,' Mr Dick added.

The panicking friends pleaded for station staff to let them in to pour water on their burns but workers turned them away.

Mr Dick said: 'They sought help from a gentleman from the staff of the station but he would not let them in to wash their faces.

'It was only later when the ambulance and police arrived were they able to get treatment.

At an earlier hearing the court heard how one of the victims described the ordeal being 'like in a horror film'

Bassey was told he would serve half of his time in custody and the remainder would be under extended supervision

Bassey, who handed himself in to police, had been drinking and taking drugs on the night and was heavily intoxicated at Ockendon station in Essex (pictured)

Lee Elliot was initially blinded and although his vision returned in the days after he was struck he still has blurred sight and doctors are not sure if it will ever return to normal.

Tyrone Terry told British Transport Police how he felt the liquid 'burning into this flesh' and through his tongue damaging his taste buds.

All of the youngsters have been left suffering psychological damage from the attack and requested that the details of their victim impact statements not be heard in public court.

Bassey, who handed himself in to police, had been drinking and taking drugs on the night and was heavily intoxicated.

The 'very intelligent' teenager showed no reaction as he was sentenced but one of his friends put his hand to his mouth in shock.

Judge Ian Graham told Bassey he feared he would offend again.

He said: 'You appear before the court for five extremely serious offences.

'There is no explanation as to why you should have done this.'

Judge Graham said the alkaline was 'extremely caustic and extremely dangerous'

Bassey was told he would serve half of his time in custody and the remainder would be under extended supervision.

Iain Purdie, mitigating, said: 'I can offer the explanation of drunkenness and drug taking but that is not an excuse.

'He is a very intelligent young man who for some strange reason on that night completely lost control of his senses.'

Judge Graham lifted reporting restrictions which would have banned Bassey from being named because he is not 18.