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Resham Khan and cousin speak out after acid attacker John Tomlin is jailed for 16 years: 'He should be on death row'

Acid attack victim Jameel Mukhtar has condemned the sentence handed to the thug who attacked him and his cousin on her 21st birthday, saying "he should be on death row".

Mr Mukhtar spoke out alongside Resham Khan after their attacker John Tomlin, 25, was today jailed for 16 years.

Tomlin soaked Mr Mukhtar, 37, and aspiring model Ms Khan with sulphuric acid in a motiveless attack on June 21 last year, the court heard.

He was sentenced at Snaresbrook crown court on Friday, with Judge Sheelagh Canavan telling him he had caused "truly horrific" injuries.

"Eyewitnesses describe the victims jumping like they were on fire, their clothing was literally melting off them", said prosecutor Richard Milne.

Jameel Mukhtar: 'It's not enough' (Rachael Burnett/PA )
Jameel Mukhtar: 'It's not enough' (Rachael Burnett/PA )

Outside the court, Mr Mukhtar said Tomlin's sentence was "not enough" to deter others from carrying out similar attacks.

He said: "He should have got two life sentences, he should be on death row.

"He's an animal and he should be treated like an animal, he should be put down."

Emotional as he spoke to the media alongside his uncle, Mr Mukhtar said of Tomlin: "He is exactly like he acted today, a coward and a little child."

He continued: "Something needs to be done about this, I don't think this was a strong enough sentence.

John Tomlin was jailed for 16 years(Met Police)
John Tomlin was jailed for 16 years(Met Police)

"This will carry on now because it wasn't a strong enough sentence."

He said: "He should have been given life, life without parole. He should have been given his whole life in prison, just to make an example that this shouldn't happen again.

"After this sentence it will carry on because it wasn't long enough and I guarantee you that."

Resham Khan said she has now been able to get on with her life, including setting up her own business and making travel plans. "I've come a long way", she said.

Resham Khan: 'I've come a long way' (Rachael Burnett/PA)
Resham Khan: 'I've come a long way' (Rachael Burnett/PA)

Asked whether Tomlin's sentence, of 16 years in prison and an extra four years on licence, was long enough, she said: "That depends on him, is 20 years enough?

"We all probably would take 20 years very differently, so it just depends on him as an individual whether 20 years is enough for him and we will see if he is rehabilitate doing by then."

Asked to send a message to those thinking of carrying acid as a weapon, Ms Khan added bluntly: "Don't be a bell end, straight up. That's it."

As Tomlin was being sentenced, Scotland Yard released dramatic CCTV images of the attack in Beckton, revealing the desperate attempts by Mr Muhktar to get away from his assailant.

The cousins had been celebrating Ms Khan’s 21st birthday and had been sitting in their parked car in Tollgate Road at 9.13am on June 21.

There was an argument on the pavement between Mr Muhktar and Tomlin, and when the driver returned to his car, Tomlin approached and squirted acid through the open window, most of it hitting Ms Khan in the passenger seat.

Tomlin then ran around the vehicle and sprayed more through the driver’s window, hitting Mr Muhktar.

Following the attack, both victims were driven to hospital for emergency treatment to their heads, necks, and bodies, needing plastic surgery and they continue to undergo counselling.

Ms Khan, a student at Manchester Met university, suffered permanent eyesight damage, the court heard.

Her cousin was left deaf in one ear, suffered damage to his right eye and extensive burns to his upper body, arms, legs, back, neck and face, and revealed he has contemplated suicide.

Tomlin pleaded guilty to two charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent on the first day of his trial in November last year.

He will serve at least two thirds of his sentence behind bars, and he will be on licence for an extra four years after the 16 year sentence has expired.