A man arranged to have his ex-girlfriend stabbed in the mouth and doused in sulphuric acid in an attempt to disfigure her, a court has heard.

Adele Bellis, a beautician, lost an ear and was left with permanent scarring following an acid attack at a bus stop in Lowestoft, Suffolk, last August. Witnesses told police they had seen smoke coming from her skin.

Prosecutor Andrew Jackson said it was the culmination of a six-month campaign by Anthony Riley, 26, with whom Bellis was in a relationship for seven years.

Riley is said to have previously arranged for his co-defendant Leon Thompson, 39, to stab Bellis, then 22, in the face last April. He also posted a sexually explicit video of her on Facebook, Jackson said.

He told Ipswich crown court on Monday: “After their relationship ended, Riley became consumed with jealousy at the prospect of her becoming involved with another man. He decided to control her by disfiguring her.”

Riley allegedly sought to hire somebody else to carry out the acid attack. Jackson said: “When these attempts to control her did not have the desired influence, he decided to go even further and exact revenge in the worst possible way.”

The court was told Bellis had worked on cruise ships and was “proud of her appearance and looks” as a beautician.

Riley allegedly offered one man £2,000 to attack her, but he refused when he realised what was involved. The court heard that another man, Jason Harrison – who owed Riley money – agreed to do it. Harrison has admitted his part in the alleged conspiracy, jurors were told.

Riley, of Lowestoft, denies false imprisonment, conspiracy to apply a corrosive liquid and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. Thompson, also of Lowestoft, denies wounding with intent, having a knife in public, conspiracy to apply a corrosive liquid and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

Bellis was in hospital for three weeks after the attack, Jackson said. She lost her right ear, is partially bald and has undergone skin grafts and facial reconstruction surgery.

Jackson said Bellis and Riley were in an on-off relationship for between six and seven years. She has said the relationship was abusive and controlling and claimed he regularly forced her to have sex in public places.

Jackson said Riley subjected Bellis to a campaign of harassment and abuse, including death threats. She went to his flat on 15 March to end the relationship but he became violent and locked her inside for four hours, the prosecutor said.



He added: “It was now plain to Mr Riley that she had no desire to be in a relationship with him. We say he was consumed by jealousy.”



Riley continued to see other women, fathering a child by one and telling police he was with another on the night of the acid attack. He allegedly persuaded Bellis to meet him and guided her down an alleyway.



Thompson is said to have stabbed her in the mouth, causing a serious facial injury. The prosecution say Riley agreed to chase Thompson who would inflict a minor injury on him to remove suspicion.



After this incident, Riley posted a brief sex video made some months earlier with Bellis on Facebook. Jackson said the act was designed to cause “complete and utter shame and humiliation”.

Riley later admitted a harassment offence in relation to the video. He then started making plans for the acid attack, the court heard. He convinced Harrison to carry out the attack and demonstrated the strength of the acid to him by dropping a live mouse into a jar of the liquid.



On the first attempt, Harrison poured the acid away and told Riley he had dropped it. He tried a second time on 13 August but aborted this attempt, and Riley allegedly told him he had “one last chance”. A hooded and masked Harrison eventually completed the planned attack on 14 August.

The trial continues and is expect to last up to three weeks.