Man jailed for 16 years for acid attack on aspiring model and her cousin

A man has been jailed for 16 years for a horrifying acid attack on an aspiring model and her cousin.

Resham Khan and Jameel Muhktar have both tried to take their own lives since the unprovoked attack by John Tomlin, 25, in Beckton, east London last June.

The cousins suffered injuries to their faces and bodies when Tomlin threw acid through their car’s open window on Ms Khan’s 21st birthday.

They had had no previous dealings with their attacker and Judge Sheelagh Canavan previously described the assault as “somewhat random”.

Sentencing Tomlin to 16 years in jail with an extended licence period of four years, Judge Canavan told him: “I’m sure you do pose a significant risk of serious harm to the public.”

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that Tomlin had been diagnosed with a personality disorder and has previous convictions for vehicle theft, common assault, robbery and burglary.

Tomlin, who has a four-year-old child, sat in the dock wearing a blue tracksuit and large silver crucifix. He did not show any emotion during the hearing.

Judge Canavan said: “No sentence I impose can ever give back to the victims what you took from them on June 21.

“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.”

Tomlin hurled acid through both front windows of the Renault Clio as it was pulled up on Tollgate Road at 9.13am on Wednesday June 21 2017.

He was seen on CCTV chasing after the car and emptying the bottle of acid over Mr Muhktar as he sped away.

Witnesses described seeing the victims “jumping around as if they were on fire” in the road as their clothing “literally melted off them on to the ground”.

Judge Canavan described their injuries as “dreadful and life changing”.

Tomlin, of Colman Road, Canning Town, was arrested after handing himself in to the police a month later and said in interview that he was “hearing voices in my head”.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of intending to cause grievous bodily harm on the first day of his trial in November 2017.

Ms Khan broke down in tears as she described the devastating impact the attack has had on her life.

She will carry lifelong scars to her face, particularly her eyes, and has suffered from severe depression and anxiety as a result of the attack.

She said that she had been “extremely happy, confident and my self esteem was high” prior to the attack, but has since tried to take her own life a number of times.

She continued: “My 21st birthday turned into a day where my face was taken away from me.

“I have been looking at myself in the mirror it upsets me, it brings back the incident on the day, it doesn’t look like me.

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

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Mr Muhktar has permanent scarring to his head, neck and body and lost hearing in one of his ears.

He also suffers from depression and said he has tried to take his own life.

He became so emotional while reading his statement that the prosecutor had to finish for him.

“Since the attack I have been hurting in many different ways, I don’t feel like I’m the same person,” he said.

“Everywhere I go I get stared at. I get flashbacks and am really worried to leave my house, constantly looking over my right shoulder fearing attacks.

“I am still in so much pain, I’m still burning and struggle to sleep at night,” he added.

“My self esteem is zero, my future is finished, I have nothing to look forward to.

“I am mentally and physically scarred for life. I can’t even have a relationship. It’s enough dealing with myself.”

Outside of court, Muhktar spoke of how he struggled to comprehend Tomlin’s actions.

He said: ‘Even animals behave better than him. Animals have got more respect for each other than he does.

‘He’s not a human; being he’s a disgusting individual. I don’t even know what to class him as. My words couldn’t explain how I think of this character.’

He said he fears he will not be able to work again because of his physical and mental injuries.