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'Evil' Ex-Boyfriend Guilty Over Acid Attack

'Evil' Ex-Boyfriend Guilty Over Acid Attack

The "jealous" and "evil" ex-boyfriend of a woman who was stabbed in the face and later doused in acid has been convicted over the attacks.

Anthony Riley, 26, was found guilty of plotting to "horrifically disfigure" his partner of seven years, Adele Bellis.

The 23-year-old victim was sitting at a bus stop in her home town of Lowestoft, Suffolk, in August last year when a man threw sulphuric acid over her before running off.

She was left without an ear, partially bald and with "life-changing" permanent scarring.

She was also stabbed in the mouth five months earlier when Riley led her down a dark alleyway where he had arranged for a masked man to be waiting, his trial heard.

And in March last year, he locked her in his flat for four hours and threatened to hurt her.

Riley, of Lowestoft, was found guilty of false imprisonment, conspiracy to apply a corrosive liquid and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

During the trial at Ipswich Crown Court, Miss Bellis said their relationship was abusive and controlling, with Riley regularly forcing her to have sex in cars in public places.

The acid attack was the culmination of a six-month campaign against her by Riley, who the court heard bombarded her with messages after their relationship broke down.

He became "consumed with jealousy at the prospect of her becoming involved with another man" and "decided to control her by disfiguring her", said prosecutor Andrew Jackson.

The acid attack was carried out by Jason Harrison, 27, who said he was forced to do it by Riley and has already admitted conspiracy to apply a corrosive liquid with intent.

After the guilty verdicts, Miss Bellis thanked her family and friends as well as high-profile acid attack survivor Katie Piper for their support, adding: "I will survive this ordeal".

Detective Constable Matt Rogers said: "Anthony Riley has proven himself to be a manipulative, evil and possessive individual who sought to coerce and intimidate a number of people around him in order for these offences to have been committed against Adele."

DC Rogers said Riley relied "on his so-called hard man image to cowardly distance himself from the acts themselves".

Leon Thompson, 39, of Lowestoft, was found guilty of wounding in connection with the April 29 knife attack.

He was also convicted of conspiracy to apply a corrosive liquid and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

A fourth man, Daniel Marshall, 38, of Haverhill, who was described as Riley's driver, has admitted conspiracy to apply a corrosive liquid with intent.

The judge John Devaux adjourned sentencing until the week starting 5 October.