Acid attack girl to be freed after just f ive months
A TEENAGER who scarred a love rival for life in a school acid attack is being released from prison after serving just a quarter of her sentence.
Emily Bowen, 18, was jailed for 21 months after she poured drain cleaner containing sulphuric acid into a viola case owned by Molly Young, then 17.
as the talented musician took the instrument from a shelf the corrosive liquid dripped down her body, burning her legs, in September 2016.
a court heard how Bowen, who admitted carrying out the attack, had targeted her victim after she started dating her exboyfriend. Sentencing Bowen in august last year a judge said the attack was a ‘terrifying ordeal’ that would leave Miss Young ‘physically and mentally scarred for the rest of her life’.
But, according to reports yesterday, the teenager’s family has now been informed that despite most offenders serving at least half of their sentence, Bowen is being released on a Home Detention Curfew (HDC) after only five months.
the order, monitored by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), allows prisoners to return to their homes with restrictions on their movements.
it is thought Bowen will live at her parents’ house in Haddington, East Lothian, less than a mile from her victim’s home. She is still subject to a five-year non-harassment order which bans her from contacting her victim.
a source told the Sunday Mail newspaper: ‘the letter informing her of the release didn’t come as a surprise. the family had been warned Bowen would be released earlier than they would like. Her release is hard to comprehend but there’s nothing anyone can do about it.’
an SPS spokesman could not comment on Bowen’s specific case but confirmed an HDC would allow a prisoner to leave jail before serving half their sentence.
Shortly after Bowen’s conviction Miss Young told iTV’s this Morning programme how the dripping drain cleaner had felt like ‘someone holding a blowtorch’ to her legs, disintegrating her tights during the attack at Haddington’s Knox academy.
the teenager, who had been looking forward to completing her exams, struggled with posttraumatic stress disorder and nerve damage after the attack.
Scottish Conservatives justice spokesman Liam Kerr said last night: ‘this was a horrible attack and it was only right that the perpetrator was put behind bars.
‘But many Scots will be struggling to understand why she’s being allowed out of jail.’
a Scottish Government spokesperson said: ‘a UK-wide consultation on a number of proposals relating to new restrictions on corrosive substances recently ended.
‘the views offered in response to the consultation will help inform decisions on next steps.’
Last July, Home Secretary amber rudd announced plans to re-classify acid as a dangerous weapon.
‘Like a blowtorch on my legs’