Arthur Collins loses appeal against 20-year jail sentence for nightclub acid attack

'We accept that this was a severe sentence, but these were exceptionally serious offences', judge tells ex-boyfriend of reality TV star Ferne McCann

Arthur Collins, the former boyfriend of reality TV star Ferne McCann, has lost an appeal over a 20-year jail term for a nightclub acid attack in east London

Collins, 26, hurled a corrosive substance over the crowd on the dance floor at Mangle E8 in Dalston in what a judge described as a “despicable act”.

Sixteen people suffered chemical burn injuries and three people were temporarily blinded.

Collins, of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, was sentenced by judge Noel Lucas at Wood Green Crown Court in December. He was told he must serve at least two-thirds of his term before he is considered for parole.

Three judges at the Court of Appeal in London rejected Collins's bid for a reduced sentence on Wednesday.

Lord Justice Simon, announcing the decision, said: “We accept that this was a severe sentence, but these were exceptionally serious offences, and the severe sentence was fully justified.”

Collins, the father of Ms McCann’s baby daughter Sunday, claimed during his trial last year he had not known liquid he threw had been acid. He told a jury he thought the bottle contained a liquid date rape drug which he had snatched from two men after overhearing them planning to spike a girl’s drink.

But a jury convicted him of five counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and nine counts of actual bodily harm.

Collins said he had been out celebrating the news of Ms McCann’s pregnancy, which they had announced to her family the previous day.

He went on the run following the attack and was arrested several days later after being found hiding out in a house in Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire.

He has previous convictions including using threatening words, possession of cocaine, and assault, and was still subject to a suspended sentence for punching a man at a nightclub when he carried out the acid attack.

In January, he was jailed for a further eight months for using a smuggled mobile phone to call Ms McCann from his cell.

Ms McCann, a showbiz reporter for This Morning and former The Only Way is Essex cast member, said would raise their child as a single parent following Collins's imprisonment.