A Watford roofer has told of the “indescribable” pain after a corrosive substance was thrown on him during an ambush.

John Chapman, 36, was sitting in his truck in Hilfield Lane, Aldenham, at around 10am on Monday, March 18, when two people dressed in black and wearing balaclavas appeared from behind a fence.

The father-of-six said they approached him with a taser, “jagged” knife and a bottle of drain cleaner, which one of the the attackers threw over him causing an “instant burn”.

The roofer said: “It was instant fire and just pain. I can't describe the level of pain.

“I ran straight to a tap and put my whole body under the tap on full blast and I was just screaming constantly until the fire brigade got there.”

Watford Observer: John said the pain was indescribable and he will be left with permanent scarring.John said the pain was indescribable and he will be left with permanent scarring. (Image: John Chapman)

John, who has lived in the Watford area all his life, was left with burns on his face, legs, arms, neck, mouth and tongue, and believes he was targeted specifically.

Herts Police have confirmed there have been no arrests and enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances around the incident.

The pain was “indescribable” and something “you wouldn't put on your worst enemy", he added. "I couldn't do this to anyone.”

Police, fire and ambulance services attended before he was taken to Watford General Hospital. He was then transferred to the burns unit at another hospital for treatment, where he currently remains.

Watford Observer: The Watford father previously lived a happy, settled life in the small village before the attack.The Watford father previously lived a happy, settled life in the small village before the attack. (Image: John Chapman)

John will undergo an operation later today (March 21) to clean the wounds and establish their severity, but he has been told by doctors he will have permanent scarring.

The roofer, who went to school in Bushey and has lived in Aldenham on and off for four years, said the attack has left him worried about what will happen next.

“They were dressed all in black, gloves, boots," he said. "They knew what they were coming to do. They didn't come there to have a chat.”

His partner, who did not wish to be named, said they previously lived a “happy, settled life” in the area before the incident.

She added: “It’s devastating and heartbreaking but I do believe he will come out the other side and I will love him regardless.”

While it was previously reported that the assailants were men, a police spokesperson said: "We have since received further information that the suspects were two women, reportedly in possession of knives, and this line of line of inquiry is being explored."

The investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances around the incident and identify those involved. 

Anyone with information can contact police via non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 41/22287/24.