Mother is blinded in one eye by acid attack
Hunt for two brothers ‘she had reported for intimidating her’
A MOTHER of six is likely to lose the sight in one eye after acid was thrown in her face, leaving her covered in burns and scars.
Carla Whitlock was enjoying a night out when she was attacked by a group of men in Southampton city centre.
Witnesses said her face appeared to melt after the corrosive liquid spattered over her head, neck and arms as she stood outside a restaurant with her partner.
Two brothers, both considered dangerous by police, are being sought over the attack on Friday night.
They were known to 37-year- old Mrs Whitlock and last night it was claimed that she had repeatedly reported them to the police for intimidation. Doctors are trying to save her right eye but yesterday she admitted: ‘They are not hopeful.
‘I’ve got no sight in that eye. They’ve not ruled out me getting my sight back. They have just said I’m going to have a few operations over the coming six months.’
Now back from hospital and at home in Southampton, she struggled to speak clearly because some of the acid went in her mouth.
She was also scarred all over her face and parts of her neck, right arm and hands. But she said her injuries would have been even worse if she had not been helped by staff at the Turtle Bay restaurant outside which she was attacked.
She added: ‘The efforts that they made is why I have got sight in my left eye.
‘I’m not sure what the future holds. I’m just trying to concentrate on getting my sight back and for my face to clear up a bit. I’m OK, my partner is helping me a lot.’
Police are studying CCTV of the attack in Guildhall Square, South- ampton. Witness Berken Fuat told how Mrs Whitlock screamed in agony as skin peeled from her face, neck, chest, legs and arms. Mr Fuat, 20, said that his friend, a woman junior doctor, comforted and treated her.
Two brothers from London are being sought over the attack and officers raided properties in the Medway area of Kent in their efforts to trace Billy and Geoffrey Midmore, 22 and 26. On Saturday morning at 2.44am – a few hours after the attack – a post on Geoffrey Midmore’s Facebook page read: ‘Ive done something really ****ing bad.’ Detective Inspector Will Whale said ‘there is no hiding place’ for the brothers.
He said they were caught on CCTV in a McDonald’s in Southampton’s Swaythling district looking ‘relaxed, confident and smirking’ the day after the attack.
Mr Whale said: ‘The victim is now out of hospital, but her injuries are life- changing and horrific. So far the public has been fantastic in coming forward with information.
‘Anyone who is harbouring the Midmores or has assisted them since the weekend will be found. If you were in the Guildhall Square in the group that was involved in this attack and you haven’t come forward yet, you will be a suspect.’
The brothers are considered to be a risk to the public.
Mrs Whitlock became a single mother in 2013 when her husband, Paul, died in a motorbike accident.