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Towie star's former boyfriend threw acid at clubbers, court hears Towie star's former boyfriend threw acid at clubbers, court hears
(about 2 hours later)
The former boyfriend of a reality TV star threw acid at revellers in a packed nightclub, a court has heard. The ex-boyfriend of a reality TV star threw acid in a crowded nightclub, injuring 16 people, after an altercation between a group of men, a court has heard.
Arthur Collins, 25, previously dated Ferne McCann, star of The Only Way is Essex, and is the father of her unborn child. Arthur Collins, 25, the father of the unborn child of Ferne McCann, from The Only Way Is Essex, threw the corrosive liquid into the face of one young man, then threw it twice more at others at the Wringer and Mangle nightclub in Dalston, east London, on 17 April.
Collins and his co-defendant, Andre Phoenix, were charged after clubbers were doused with a corrosive substance at the Wringer and Mangle in Dalston, east London, on 17 April. Collins, of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and co-defendant Andre Phoenix, of Tottenham, north London, both deny five counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and 11 counts of actual bodily harm.
Collins, from Broxbourne in Hertfordshire, denies five counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and 11 counts of actual bodily harm against 16 people. The incident allegedly started with “pushing and shoving” between a group of men, the prosecutor Luke Ponte told Wood Green crown court.
Phoenix, from Tottenham in north London, denies the same offences. “It is not clear exactly 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,” Ponte said.
Luke Ponte, prosecuting, told Wood Green crown court the incident appeared to start with an altercation between a group of men, with some pushing and shoving.
“It is not clear exactly 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,” he said.
“One of the young men, perhaps perceiving the threat of a knife, threw a bottle or a container of acid into the face of another young man. As that man went down in pain, the aggressor threw acid a second time, directed towards another man, and then threw acid a third time.”“One of the young men, perhaps perceiving the threat of a knife, threw a bottle or a container of acid into the face of another young man. As that man went down in pain, the aggressor threw acid a second time, directed towards another man, and then threw acid a third time.”
Jurors heard that 16 people on the crowded dancefloor were injured in the attack. Ponte said there was no question that the person who threw the acid was Collins, who at the time was wearing a T-shirt with the word “Killer” on it. He did not dispute it, which was not surprising as his actions were captured clearly on the club’s CCTV, Ponte said.
Ponte said: “There is no question as to who threw the acid. It was Arthur Collins. He does not dispute that he threw the acid, and it is perhaps not surprising that he does not dispute it as the confrontation, the first throw, the second throwing and the third throwing are all captured quickly but clearly on the club’s CCTV. Collins was assisted “by his good friend” Phoenix, the court was told. “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,” the prosecutor said.
“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.” The two had arrived at the club at 9pm. The jury watched CCTV footage which showed Collins throwing a liquid towards one man on the dance floor at around 1am. A number of people were injured, with varying degrees of severity, including Phoenix, who was splashed with the substance, which had a PH level of 1, Ponte said.
Jurors were shown CCTV of Collins and Phoenix arriving at the club at about 9pm before getting into a confrontation with a group of men approximately four hours later. At about 1am Collins is seen throwing a liquid towards one of the men on the dancefloor. After the incident, Collins asked someone to “take a picture of my mate’s face”. The photo showed marking from the acid splash.
The court heard that a number of people were injured in the incident, with varying degrees of severity. This included Phoenix, who was splashed with the unidentified substance, which had a pH level of 1. Questioning Collin’s motive for this, Ponte said: “It might be useful to Mr Collins to have a photo of his friend looking like he was a victim rather than an attacker. This was before he had seen the CCTV.”
Jurors were told that after the incident Collins asked one of the clubbers – Tamara-Jane Castle, who is also named on the indictment as a victim, to “take a picture of my mate’s face”. Phoenix was arrested on 21 April. Collins initially could not be found, but he was arrested a few days later at an unfurnished property in Northamptonshire by police who forced entry. The jury heard that Collins jumped out of a first-floor window in a T-shirt and underwear before being shot with a stun gun.
Ponte said: “Why did Mr Collins want a photograph? Mr Phoenix can be seen in that photo with markings from where the acid splashed him. It might be useful to Mr Collins to have a photo of his friend looking like he was a victim, rather than an attacker. This was before he had seen the CCTV.” A week before the acid attack, Collins had sent a message to his sister saying: “Tell mum to mind that little hand wash in my car acid,” the court was told.
Collins and Phoenix were quickly identified from the footage, in which Collins could be seen wearing a T-shirt with the word “killer” written on it. The case continues.
Phoenix was arrested on 21 April but Collins was not apprehended until a few days later because initially he “could not be found”. Collins was arrested after police forced entry into an unfurnished property in Northamptonshire.
The court was told Collins jumped out of the first-floor window in his T-shirt and underwear to try to get away, before being apprehended by officers using a stun gun.
Jurors also heard that Collins sent an iMessage to his his sister one week before the acid attack, saying: “Tell mum to Mind that little hand wash in my car acid”.
The trial continues.