A man accused of throwing acid at an aspiring model and her cousin smiled and blew kisses at his supporters while in court.

John Tomlin, 25, appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court on Tuesday charged with two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent after he handed himself in to police on Sunday.

Resham Khan, 21, and Jameel Muhktar, 37, were left with life-changing neck and face injuries when acid was thrown at them through car windows in east London on Ms Khan’s birthday last month.

Mr Tomlin, of Canning Town, east London, grinned from the dock and blew kisses to well-wishers in the public gallery as he was led away from the court.

He was remanded in custody and ordered to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 8 August.

Ms Khan, a student at Manchester Metropolitan University, and Mr Muhktar suffered severe burns to the face and body in the attack shortly after 9am on 21 June as they waited at traffic lights.