FIND EVIL ANIMAL WHO THREW ACID AT ELLIE SAYS EX
Plea as police hunt a recent lover of tour rep
A FORMER boyfriend of acid victim Eleanor Chessell has urged police to find the “animal” behind the horrific attack.
British tour rep Ellie, 29, suffered 50% burns after being doused in two litres of corrosive fluid at a resort where she had been working.
Claudio Gouveia, who split from Eleanor three months ago after two years with her, said: “I’m sure [police] will do their job and find the animal that did this to Ellie.
“I hope she recovers. She was such an important part of my life and this is disgusting news.”
He was speaking after seeing Portuguese police to “clear up any misunderstanding” after officers said they were looking for a recent ex of Ellie’s.
He added yesterday: “It’s all cleared up, now.” Earlier he said he had been surprised that police had not contacted him.
Claudio, from the island of Madeira added: “I haven’t been with Ellie for about three months so I guess they could mean another boyfriend.”
After they split, it is believed Ellie, from the Isle of Wight, went to the Algarve to work at a hotel near Albufeira but had to move to avoid an ex. Police have been looking at threats the Thomson and First Choice worker received before the attack in Alvor, near the resort, on Saturday night. Sources believe a violent ex may have got to Ellie via a fake Facebook account and that it was a relationship that ended recently. Detectives fear he may have hired a stranger to carry out the attack. Lisbon Policia Judiciaria said: “There are no arrests but we expect to close the investigation soon.” Ellie is said to be stable at a specialist hospital in the capital.