Ferne McCann's ex Arthur Collins found guilty of acid attack in London nightclub

It happened in April

Arthur Collins and Ferne McCann
Author: Anna Sky MagliolaPublished 20th Dec 2017

Ferne McCann's ex-boyfriend, and father of her newborn baby girl, Arthur Collins, has been found guilty of an acid attack which happened at a London nightclub in April this year.

The attack happened at the Mangle E8 nightclub on Easter Sunday, the 17th April 2017 and Arthur was found guilty of throwing acid at clubbers on the dancefloor, affecting 22 people.

The 25-year-old admitted throwing the liquid, but said he believed it to be a date rape drug. However, he was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court to 20 years in prison, with an extra five years on licence.

Judge Noel Lucas QC described the attack by the 25-year-old as a "despicable act" as he spoke in court; branding him an "accomplished liar" who has "not the slightest remorse for his actions."

Meanwhile, Arthur described his actions as a "stupid little mistake" and reportedly showed very little reaction at his sentencing.

This comes as one of Arthur's victims, Phoebe Georgiou, has written an open letter in which she says her "old life was taken" away from her and she has suffered "burned, scarred skin and the psychological trauma".

Of the 22 people affected by the attack, 16 were left with serious burns and two people were left blinded in an eye. Another man also suffered third-degree chemical burns to the left side of the face.

Ferne McCann and Arthur Collins

The Only Way Is Essex star Ferne McCann was forced to announce her pregnancy earlier than usual back in April after Arthur's arrest. At the time Ferne's representative said, "Ferne is grateful for the sympathetic way news of her pregnancy has been covered and people’s support and obviously her first concern is for her child’s health.

"Accordingly she does not wish to discuss the pregnancy further given the early stage it is at and the immense strain that Ferne is currently under."

The statement ended, "Her thoughts are with the victims of the horrific attack on Easter Monday."

Ferne gave birth to a baby daughter in November and later revealed the unusual name of Sunday. Since giving birth she has visited her ex-boyfriend once in prison, after visitng him she told the Sunday People, "I thought it was important that Arthur see Sunday and see exactly what his actions have led to him missing out on.

"I strongly feel for the innocent people hurt that night and I in no way condone violence as I have already made clear. It was a difficult decision to take Sunday into that environment but I felt I needed to confront him about a number of things, which I have now done."

A friend of Ferne's said Arthur was told he would never see his daughter again.

"Ferne was very, very angry, she was absolutely furious and gave Arthur a piece of her own mind," the friend said.