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Mohammed Rafiq, 80, jailed for acid revenge attack on teen ex | Mohammed Rafiq, 80, jailed for acid revenge attack on teen ex |
(35 minutes later) | |
An 80-year-old man has been jailed for 18 years for masterminding an acid revenge attack on his teenage ex-girlfriend. | An 80-year-old man has been jailed for 18 years for masterminding an acid revenge attack on his teenage ex-girlfriend. |
Mohammed Rafiq was convicted on 12 December of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Vikki Horsman, 20. | |
Ms Horsman was left scarred by the attack in April, when she was 19. | |
Rafiq, of Cheshire Road, Smethwick, paid two men £50 to attack her after she ended their relationship, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard. | Rafiq, of Cheshire Road, Smethwick, paid two men £50 to attack her after she ended their relationship, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard. |
Shannon Heaps, 23, and Steven Holmes, 25, were found guilty of plotting to attack Ms Horsman at her friend's house in Tividale, West Midlands. | |
They were jailed for 12 years and 18 years respectively - both laughed when they heard the sentence and Heaps punched the air. | |
Holmes threw the acid and Heaps, who was at the door, was the one who put Rafiq and Holmes in touch with each other, the court heard. | |
A fourth defendant, Ceri Parkes, 26, of Smethwick, was given 12 months on Friday after she admitted in July perverting the course of justice. | |
During the trial, the court heard Ms Horsman had entered into a relationship with "controlling" Rafiq when she was 18. | During the trial, the court heard Ms Horsman had entered into a relationship with "controlling" Rafiq when she was 18. |
He became angered when she broke up with him, and arranged for Heaps and Holmes to attack her with the corrosive liquid. | He became angered when she broke up with him, and arranged for Heaps and Holmes to attack her with the corrosive liquid. |
On 15 April, she opened the door of the house and was met by a hooded figure who threw acid in her face. | On 15 April, she opened the door of the house and was met by a hooded figure who threw acid in her face. |
She suffered "horrific" burns as a result, requiring specialist surgery to her face, neck, shoulders, and upper leg, police said. | She suffered "horrific" burns as a result, requiring specialist surgery to her face, neck, shoulders, and upper leg, police said. |
They said Rafiq, who himself suffered minor burns when he was splashed with liquid, was initially treated as a victim but later charged. | They said Rafiq, who himself suffered minor burns when he was splashed with liquid, was initially treated as a victim but later charged. |
Rafiq and Heaps, of Queens Avenue, Tividale, and Holmes, of Allan Close, Smethwick, were found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. | |
The elderly man was also convicted of a further charge of perverting the course of justice. | The elderly man was also convicted of a further charge of perverting the course of justice. |
Speaking after the trial, Ms Horsman told how she had been left with "life-changing" injuries. | Speaking after the trial, Ms Horsman told how she had been left with "life-changing" injuries. |
Investigating officer Det Con Jason Moseley said the case had been "horrifying and complex" and "centred around a controlling relationship". | Investigating officer Det Con Jason Moseley said the case had been "horrifying and complex" and "centred around a controlling relationship". |
"Rafiq's young ex-partner was seriously injured and left with devastating, lasting scars, which one can only presume was his intent given the nature of the planned attack," he said. | "Rafiq's young ex-partner was seriously injured and left with devastating, lasting scars, which one can only presume was his intent given the nature of the planned attack," he said. |
Judge Nicholas Webb described the crime as a "wicked premeditated attack" and described Rafiq as cruel as vengeful and the nature of attack was designed to degrade her. |