Arthur Collins, 25, allegedly hurled the acid across the dancefloor after a fight broke out
The former boyfriend of The Only Way Is Essex star Ferne McCann accused of carrying out an acid attack in nightclub punched a clubber in the face at another nightclub, a court heard today.
Arthur Collins, 25, allegedly injured 16 people by hurling acid across the dancefloor at the Wringer and Mangle club in Hackney, East London.
His friend Andre Phoenix, 21, is said to have helped him carry out the attack at the Love Juice event in the early hours of April 17, Easter Monday.
Collins, of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, wearing a grey t-shirt with ‘CANDY KILLER’ emblazoned across it, hurled the acid across the dancefloor after a fight broke out with another group, it is said.
A week before Collins, who is the father of Ms McCann’s unborn child, had text his sister mentioning acid being in his car, jurors were told.
Wood Green Crown Court heard Collins has a previous conviction for assault occasioning actual bodily harm from December 28, 2015.
Luke Ponte, prosecuting, said: ‘Mr Collins punched the victim in the face at a nightclub.’
He initially gave a no comment interview, but after he was identified gave a prepared statement saying it was a pre-emptive strike, the court was told.
Jurors also heard of an iMessage Collins sent to his sister, Chenade Rowe, on April 10 this year. The message read: ‘Tell mum to mind that little hand wash in my car acid.’
Mr Ponte told jurors: ‘The Candy Killer t-shirt, as worn by Mr Collins, are available to be purchased on Amazon.’
Collins allegedly injured 16 people by hurling acid across the dancefloor at the Wringer and Mangle club in Hackney, East London (pictured)
Phoenix was arrested on April 21 near his home in Tottenham, and gave a no comment interview. Collins was arrested on April 23.
Mr Ponte said: ‘He was asked a series of questions, to which he answered no comment.’ Descriptions of the injuries were read to the court as agreed facts.
The court was told about the horrific injuries suffered by some of the clubbers.
Two of the victims sustained serious injuries after the acid soaked into their clothes and into their skin.
One woman required surgery when she developed an abscess as a result of a third degree burn becoming infected.
Of the alleged GBH victims, Makai Brown suffered chemical burns to his face, neck and shoulder area, covering 1.5 per cent of his body, and later underwent a skin graft.
Kwami Licorish suffered a ‘severe widespread chemical burn’ to his left eye, and wounds on his face, while Ruam Mota had wounds to his cheeks, chest, arm and hand.
A week before the incident Collins (right), who is the father of the unborn child of Ferne McCann (left, together), had text his sister mentioning acid being in his car, jurors were told.
Meanwhile, Sophie Hall suffered injuries to her face, chest, shoulders and arms.
She had a scratch on her eye with chemical conjunctivitis, and was prescribed eye medications.
Phoebe Georgiou suffered burns to her neck and chest, and had splash marks elsewhere.
Other agreed facts included previous convictions for three alleged victims – Mr Brown, Mr Licorish and Mr Mota – who Collins and Phoenix are said to have got in a fight with.
Mr Brown has a conviction from 2007 for possession of a lock knife, which he discarded under a car.
Mr Licorish’s record includes attempted robbery, robbery, and possession of a prohibited weapon – two cans of pepper spray – found at his home.
And Mr Mota has a conviction for robbery and possessing a bladed article, after he was found with a 7-8inch lock knife during a stop and search.
Collins and Phoenix, of Tottenham, North London, deny five counts of causing GBH with intent, and 11 counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The trial continues.
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