Acid attack survivor: “I never thought I’d be happy again – now I’ve found love”
Adele Bellis suffered horrific burns after an acid attack orchestrated by her exboyfriend – but now she’s found The One
Adele Bellis’ life A was changed forever when her ex-boyfriend arranged for acid to be hurled into her face.
Left partially bald, and with serious burns to her face, neck and arm, Adele, 26, was left devastated and wondered if she’d ever be able to trust a man again.
Now, five years on from her horrific ordeal, Adele has fallen for construction worker Josh, 28. Madly in love, the pair are even discussing marriage.
Adele explains, “It’s been a really tough few years, but I’m stronger now and all I want is to be normal.
“I was nervous to get back out on the dating scene and it’s been hard to trust again, but Josh is so wonderful. I know he’s The One and we’ve even talked about marriage and babies.
“Until then, we’re both going to stay living with our parents so we can save up to buy a house. I’m enjoying how normal life is again.”
Adele’s violent ex, Anthony Riley, 26, paid an accomplice to throw acid at her while she stood at a bus stop in 2014.
She explains, “Anthony was my first serious boyfriend. I met him outside a pub when I was 16 and he stood out from the other boys with his sharp clothes and Glaswegian accent. At 19, he was exciting and spoiled me with gifts and attention. But soon, his behaviour became controlling. He hated me seeing my friends and became violent towards me. In 2012, I finally ended it.
“But Anthony began turning up at my parents’ house and making threats. A few months later, I left to work in a spa on a cruise ship, partly because I wanted to get away. But when I returned after a year, I bumped into Anthony again at the gym and said hello.”
Still infatuated, he began sending Adele flowers, which she ignored. Then, in April 2014, a man, who Adele didn’t know, lunged at her with a knife on the street before running away. He cut her face and she was left needing 20 stitches and an operation.
AGONISING PAIN
She explains, “I was terrified and really shaken up. The police were involved and Anthony was a suspect, but I didn’t think he could be behind something like that. Three weeks later, he put naked pictures of me on his Facebook page. I was devastated and reported it to the police, but he denied it and said someone had stolen his phone. Eventually, he was charged with harassment as there was no evidence to charge anyone with the attack.”
But worse was to come. In August 2014, Adele was standing alone at a bus stop when a hooded man walked past and threw liquid into her face while she was talking on her phone.
She says, “Instinctively, I turned away, which meant the right side of my head, my hand and my phone got the worst of it. I didn’t know what had happened. Then I felt an agonising burning pain and began screaming for water and ran into the road, where a man and woman in a car stopped to help. The acid burned through my ear and I felt my face melting. When the ambulance crew arrived, I was sedated.”
Adele says she felt relief the first time she saw her face after six weeks of treatment.
She says, “I still had a nose, eyes and mouth. I had no ear,
but I could still hear. And I was half bald. But, of course, it was extremely painful and I had to undergo multiple skin grafts and wear a special pressure mask 12 hours a day for 18 months.
“When detectives later told me that Anthony was behind the attack, I was crushed. I also learned that he was not a labourer, like I’d believed, but a drug dealer. I felt anger that all the time we were together, I’d never really known him. He wanted to ruin my looks forever, so no man would want me – but he’d failed as only part of my face was affected. I knew I had to be strong and not let him win.”
Riley was sentenced to life with a minimum of 13 years for arranging the attack, while two co-conspirators received shorter sentences.
DATING AGAIN
Adele says, “Anthony once said that if he couldn’t have me, then he’d make sure no one else would want me, so I was determined to date again after he went to prison.
“My mum was a bit worried, but my friends encouraged me to try Tinder. I spoke to a few people, but the first date I arranged was with Josh.
“I didn’t tell him about the attack until our first date, where he told me I was brave and beautiful. It took me a little while to trust him, but he was so lovely and my parents adored him too.”
By December 2017, the pair were officially a couple and Adele says that Josh is comfortable with her scars.
She says, “I have hair permanently glued in place now, but I had to take it off in October as I needed an operation to cut into the scar tissue on my neck and arm to help with movement.
“Josh helped me change my bandages, it was the first time he’d seen the extent of my injuries. He was shocked, but I know he’s really proud of me.”
Adele works as a beautician part-time, as her ongoing treatment takes up a lot of time. She has regular physio and laser treatment to stop scar tissue building up, as well as regular trips to have her hair redone.
But she says she’s happy she’s found The One, and can’t wait for the future.
She adds, “I’ve told him I want a big ring. But we’re saving up to buy a house first, so he’s living with his parents and I’m still living with mine.
NORMAL LIFE
“I’ve been at home since the attack, so it will be a big deal to move out, but I feel ready.
“All I’ve wanted for the last few years is to have a normal life and, with Josh, I feel like that’s finally a reality – in a way, my dreams have come true.
“The attack left me traumatised, but counselling has helped a lot. People say I’m brave, but I’ve just done what I had to do.
“Every year, Anthony tries to appeal his sentence. And while it upsets my family, it won’t upset me – that would give him some control over my life. I don’t think about what might happen when he’s eventually released.
“I wouldn’t even give up my scars if I had the choice now, because they remind me of my freedom and I’m proud of how far I’ve come.”
❛ I WOULDN’T EVEN GIVE UP MY SCARS IF I HAD THE CHOICE NOW, BECAUSE THEY REMIND ME OF MY FREEDOM ❜