Ferne McCann’s ex ‘threw acid three times’ in attack

Towie star Ferne McCann’s ex-boyfriend was wearing a top with the word ‘killer’ written across his chest when he hurled acid three times in a crowded nightclub, a court heard today.

Arthur Collins, 25, is accused of throwing the corrosive substance across the dance floor at the packed ‘Love Juice’ event at the Mangle nightclub in Hackney over the Easter Weekend.

After a brief altercation with a group of men in the VIP area, Collins ‘came out of nowhere’ and threw the acid into a man’s face just before 1am, Wood Green Crown Court heard.

As he was pulled away, Collins threw the acid twice more, hitting unsuspecting clubbers who ran to safety, prosecutors said.

Collins admits throwing the liquid but claims he didn’t know it was acid.

He and co-defendant Andre Phoenix, 21, both deny five counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and 11 counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on 17 April.

The two friends went to the club near London Fields armed with the acid, prepared for an attack, jurors were told.

Arthur Collins, pictured left and right, in a court sketch from a previous hearing, is on trial over the acid attack in a London nightclub which injured 17 people

Photos from the night show police and ambulances at the scene where clubbers were burned

Prosecutor Luke Ponte told the court: ‘It is the Sunday night of the Easter Weekend and people are out and about like it is a Saturday night.

‘The dance floor is crowded, it’s packed, people are enjoying themselves, just like any other club in the country.

‘And again, just like anywhere else, a bit of trouble flares up. Nothing much at first, the beginnings of an argument.

‘It doesn’t amount to much, some pushing some shoving, some young men, some raised voices but it quickly escalates.

‘It is not clear how this trouble started but it is very clear how it ended, suddenly and decisively, and not at all in keeping with what had gone before.

‘One of the young men, perhaps perceiving the threat of a knife, threw acid into the face of another young man.’

Sophie Hall (left) was among the 17 people treated for acid burns after the nightclub attack

The prosecutor added: ‘As that man went down in pain, the aggressor threw acid at them a second time towards another young man, and then a third time.

‘You will see, in due course, the consequences of those actions, they were just as you would expect on a crowded dance floor, on a popular night.’

Collins is standing trial with Andre Phoenix, who allegedly handed him the acid

The prosecutor said 17 people were injured in the incident.

He added: ‘There is no dispute as to who threw the acid three times, it was Arthur Collins.

‘That he does not dispute it is perhaps unsurprising, as the confrontation, the first throwing, the second throwing and the third throwing are all captured quickly but distinctly on the club’s CCTV.

‘He was assisted, and we’ll come to how in a moment, by his good friend Andre Phoenix.

‘The Crown’s case is that these two friends came to the club together, armed with acid together, they stayed together, got drunk together, got in a fight together, threw it together, stayed around together and finally left together.’

Mr Ponte said it was Phoenix who was the aggressor to the men and Phoenix who passed the acid to Collins just before the first throw.

Two revellers were partially blinded and 15 others left disfigured in the alleged attack.

The GBH charges relate to clubbers Kwami Licorish, Makai Brown, Ruam Mota, Sophie Hall and Phoebe Georgiou. 

Ferne McCann, pictured last week, is no longer in a relationship with Collins, but is pregnant with his baby

Scarlett Marshall, Tamara-Jane Castle, Jay Lanning, Nadia Pascal, James Bloor, Lauren Trent, Laura Hester, India Rose Sykes, David Mills, Alex Enever and Megan Usher were also hurt in the alleged attack at the Love Juice event. 

A jury of five men and seven women were sworn in on Monday to try Collins, and Phoenix, 21, at Wood Green Crown Court for a case expected to last at least three weeks. 

Collins, of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, denies five counts of grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, and 11 counts of actual bodily harm against 16 people. Phoenix, of Tottenham, north London, denies the same offences. 

The trial continues. 

Jury told Collins was Tasered by police after jumping from window 

After the attack, Collins and Phoenix were quickly identified from the CCTV as potential suspects, the court heard.

Phoenix was arrested on 21 April 2017 and answered no comment to all questions.

Officers noticed that he had splash marks on his face consistent with his having been splashed by acid, said Mr Ponte.

But Collins was not as easily traced, jurors heard.

Collins was Tasered after he jumped from a window of this house in a bid to get away, the jury were told today

When he was tracked down to an unfurnished house in Rushden, Northamptonshire he jumped from a first floor window in just his pants.

‘At first, Mr Collins could not be found,’ said Mr Ponte.

‘He was not at his home address and was arrested a few days later when police attended an unfurnished property in Northamptonshire.

‘Entry was forced to the premises, as officers repeatedly shouted ‘police’ in order to arrest him.

‘And Mr Collins jumped out of the first floor window in his t-shirt and underwear to try and get away. He was Tasered by officers and was arrested and cautioned.

‘And he complained of pain in his leg and was taken to hospital for assessment.

‘Once he was well enough, he too, was taken to a police station for interview under caution and he too as is his right, answered no comment to all questions asked of him.’