20 years’ jail for reality star’s ex-boyfriend who hurled acid into crowded nightclub
THE ex-boyfriend of a reality TV star was jailed for 20 years yesterday for a horrific nightclub acid attack which left some 22 revellers injured.
Arthur Collins, 25, who hurled acid across a crowded dance floor, was branded ‘dangerous’ and ‘remorseless’ as he was sentenced.
Collins is the former partner of Ferne McCann, who appeared on ITV’s The Only Way Is Essex, and father of her daughter, who was born during his trial at Wood Green Crown Court in North London.
He showed no emotion as the sentence was passed before winking at his family. He had launched the substance over a crowd at the Mangle E8 club in Dalston, East London, on April 17 while trying to target a group of men following an argument.
Collins, of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, was convicted of five counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and nine counts of actual bodily harm in November after a trial.
He had admitted throwing the substance but claimed he thought it was a date rape drug he had tossed away to prevent two men from spiking a drink. Yesterday Judge Noel Lucas said: ‘The verdicts of the jury prove he knew it was acid. He has expressed not the least remorse. The injuries must have been extremely painful and utterly terrifying.’
In mitigation, George Carter-Stephenson, QC, said Collins had a ‘very low’ IQ and that the reality of being in the public eye ‘was difficult for him’.
Several of his victims told the court how they had been scarred for life. Lauren Trent, 22, suffered third-degree burns as she celeface, brated her birthday with fellow victim Sophie Hall, also 22.
She said: ‘You don’t know what it feels like to ... feel your skin dissolving, melting, blistering and you can’t do anything to stop it.’ She added: ‘Imagine that was your own daughter on her 22nd birthday... knowing there was nothing you could do but listen as she’s screaming that her skin’s coming off in her hands.’ Miss Hall was hit by acid on her blinding her temporarily and also scarring her arm. ‘I am scarred for the rest of my life and I’m only 22... my whole world has been turned upside down,’ she said.
The hearing yesterday was also told how Collins had previously threatened an acid attack on an ex-girlfriend’s mother.
He rang the woman in the middle of the night threatening to have acid thrown in her face and to have her raped. He was given a caution after apologising and saying he had done it ‘out of frustration’.
He has six previous convictions, including using threatening and offensive words, possession of cocaine, drunk driving and assault.
Collins claimed he had no assets to pay compensation to his victims, but faced scepticism from the judge. Referring to two hair transplants Collins had last year at a private Harley Street clinic, the judge said: ‘I suspect it wasn’t paid for on the NHS, and I dare say it wasn’t cheap.
‘If I sound as if I am sceptical of the information I have been given, it is because I am. I don’t believe a word, frankly.’
‘I am scarred for the rest of my life’