Aspiring model has tried to take her own life after random acid attack

An aspiring model has revealed that she tried to take her own life eight times after a stranger threw acid in her face on her 21st birthday.

Resham Khan told Snaresbook Crown Court that she has had suicidal thoughts since the incident and has taken eight overdoses, saying “my face was taken away from me”.

John Tomlin, 25, admitted to intentionally causing Ms Khan and her cousin Jameel Muhktar grievous bodily harm in the unprovoked attack on Wednesday June 21, 2017 .

The incident occurred when the pair were out celebrating Ms Khan’s 21st birthday in Beckton, East London.

Tomlin had been arguing with Mr Mukhtar on the pavement and followed the car as they desperately tried to escape him.

Harrowing CCTV footage then showed Tomlin emptying a bottle of acid over Mr Muhktar after he threw the substance through both front windows of the Renault Clio.

Ms Khan, a Manchester Metropolitan University student, was left with serious face and neck injuries and suffered damage to her left eye.

While Mr Mukhtar, aged 37, was forced into an induced coma and left with a permanent scar to his head, hearing loss and psychological problems.

He told a doctor:  "I need all the help I can get, I just want to die… I worry if I'm on my on I might do something."

Judge Canavan said the cousins had “no previous dealings” with the attacker and labelled the assault as “somewhat random”.

"No sentence I impose can ever give back to the victims what you took from them on June 21, she said.

"The court can only hope that in time and with help they can begin to put the consequences of your unprovoked attack behind them. It is undoubtedly a life's work."

Both victims were in court when the sentence was passed, and Tomlin, who was wearing a blue tracksuit, reportedly remained emotionless throughout.

They bravely read statements to the court about the life changing affect their injuries will have on their lives.

Ms Khan said:"My 21st birthday turned into a day where my face was taken away from me.

"No matter what his sentence may be these injuries will affect me for the rest of my life."

Speaking after the verdict, Mr Mukhtar said that "he's an animal. Even animals behave better than that...he's not a human being".

Tomlin, of Colman Road, Canning Town, has had a history of violent convictions and had previously pleaded guilty to two charges of GBH in October.