Teen left scarred for life by acid that love rival poured in her viola case
A gIRl who left a love rival scarred for life in an acid attack has been locked up for 21 months.
Emily Bowen, 18, poured drain cleaner into the viola case of fellow pupil Molly Young.
When Miss Young pulled the case down from a shelf, the fluid, which was 91 per cent sulphuric acid, poured on to her legs.
The 18-year-old has had plastic surgery and laser treatment to try to reduce the scarring.
Passing sentence at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Sheriff Michael O’grady QC said the attack was utterly wicked.
He told Bowen: ‘You researched this topic and you of all people should have been aware of the potentially horrendous consequences for any young woman maimed by this mechanism.
‘You have left a young woman to suffer a terrifying ordeal and she will be both physically and mentally scarred for the rest of her life.
‘You should understand there is currently a very real public concern and fear about the emergence of this awful substance.
‘It must be plain to anyone who resorts to acid for whatever purpose that the courts will not tolerate its possession or use for any criminal act.’ Bowen had admitted last September’s attack at a previous hearing which was told she and Miss Young were talented members of the orchestra at Knox Academy in East lothian.
They fell out when Miss Young began going out with a former boyfriend of Bowen.
It was suggested in court that Bowen had intended only to destroy her rival’s viola.
Aidan Higgins, prosecuting, said police had found evidence on Bowen’s phone of her researching acid attacks in the Press, and checking how long the attackers were being jailed.
Describing the incident, he said: ‘The accused entered the music room and took down the girl’s viola case, opened it and poured a quantity of drain cleaner over the viola and inside the case. She then placed it back on the shelf.
‘When the victim went into the strings room she was aware of an eggy smell. She took down her case and she was immediately aware of red liquid spilling from the bottom of the case and landing on her right leg. She looked down and saw her tights were disintegrating and she was aware of an intense burning.’
Bowen was identified as the culprit by a pupil who had spotted her crouching in the deserted music room ten minutes before the incident.
Miss Young was treated at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and transferred to St John’s Hospital in livingston for plastic surgery.
The school had to be locked down by police and firemen because of the use of chemicals.
The court was told Miss Young continues to suffer psychological problems and has ‘shooting pains and nerve damage’.
Jim Stephenson, in mitigation, told the court Bowen had been diagnosed with autism and was suffering from depression.
Asking for a community order to be imposed, he said she ‘struggled to deal with things’ but had a supportive family.
But Sheriff O’grady told her: ‘It is with considerable regret that I have come to the conclusion that nothing but a custodial sentence is appropriate.’
He also banned Bowen from contacting Miss Young under a five-year non-harassment order.
‘Horrendous consequences’