Mangle E8: Arthur Collins jailed for 20 years for ‘cowardly’ acid attack in London Fields nightclub

Arthur Collins was sentenced to 20 years for the Mange E8 acid attack (Photo: Met Police)

A man who threw acid in a packed London Fields nightclub has been jailed for 20 years, and will serve a further five years on licence.

Arthur Collins, 25, from Hertfordshire, an ex-boyfriend of reality TV star Fearne McCann, was sentenced yesterday (19 December) at Wood Green Crown Court.

He was found guilty in November of five counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and nine counts of actual bodily harm.

Hackney’s borough commander called the acid attack “a barbaric and cowardly act”.

More than 20 people were injured at Mangle E8 in Warburton Road on 17 April when Collins threw acid at a man he was arguing with on the crowded dancefloor.

Victims described seeing ‘steam’ rise above them and a chemical smell which made them choke.

Collins, who is  was caught on CCTV and sent a message to his sister six days later warning: “mind that little hand wash in my car ACID.”

Hundreds were evacuated from Mangle in London Fields (Photo: Hackney Citizen)

He claimed the message was about a shampoo containing amino acid and coconut oil, which he kept in the car to hide his hair transplant from his girlfriend.

Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Laurence, Hackney borough commander, said: “Collins went to the nightclub that night with a bottle of a noxious substance with the intent to use it to inflict serious harm.

“He indiscriminately and recklessly sprayed the substance in a crowded place, knowing full well the danger this would pose to a large number of people. This was a barbaric and cowardly act.

“Furthermore, Collins stayed in the nightclub for an hour after the attack as police and emergency services arrived to tend to the victims, seemingly without a care for the 16 people against whom he had inflicted serious injuries upon.”

He added: “I would personally like to thank the victims for their strength and bravery; in being forced by Collins to give evidence during the trial, they have had to re-live that night.

“I can only hope that their continuing strength will enable them to face the rest of their lives in a normal as possible way. I hope that at least they will take some solace from knowing that Collins will be in prison for a long time.”

Hackney has witnessed an increase in acid attacks over the last several years, with 51 attacks taking place between March 2016 and June 2017.