The ex-boyfriend of Towie star Ferne McCann winked at his family as he was jailed for 20 years after he squirted acid across a packed nightclub dancefloor.

Arthur Collins, 25, hurled the corrosive liquid across the club in east London during a tit-for-tat gang war and later branded the crime 'a silly little mistake'.

The horrific incident left 22 innocent clubbers injured, several of whom confronted him in court, with one woman recalling the moment she felt her skin 'come off'.

Handing him a 25 sentence, which included an extended licence of five years, Judge Noel Lucas QC branded Collins a 'calculating liar'.

He also said Collins, the father of Miss McCann's baby daughter, has not shown the 'slightest remorse' after the 'deliberate and calculated attack'.

One of his victims, Sophie Hall, said those who were injured had 'been left with permanent scars for the rest of our lives' after the sentencing hearing.

Ferne McCann met up with TOWIE co-star James Argent yesterday ahead of the sentencing hearing on Tuesday

Arthur Collins, the drug dealing boyfriend of reality TV star Ferne McCann, injured more than 20 clubbers when he threw acid across a nightclub dancefloor

Arthur Collins (pictured with Ferne McCann) was jailed for 20 years after he hurled acid over innocent clubbers

Collins and McCann had been living the high life in the weeks before the attack. He was wearing the same 'Candy Killer' T-shirt he wore in this picture in the Middle East when he carried out the attack

Another victim, Lauren Trent, bravely described the harrowing moment she had to phone her parents on her birthday night out to tell them her skin was 'coming off'.

Collins, of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, was convicted of five counts of causing GBH with intent and nine counts of assault occasioning ABH, relating to 14 revellers.

During the sentencing hearing at Wood Green Crown Court, the judge ruled that Collin was 'dangerous' - meaning he will serve at least two-thirds of the jail term.

His family wept and shouted 'love you, Arth' after the sentence was delivered by the judge. He winked at his family as he was led to the cells.

Judge Lucas said: 'Your case has attracted a great deal of public interest. This is because what you did at the Mangle club on Easter Sunday evening was a despicable act.

'The conclusion I have come to is that you deliberately carried strong acid into that club to use when the need arised. The CCTV showed the wholly cowardly nature of the attack.

'Mr Collins' contrived defence is in my judgment significant. It shows him to be an accomplished and calculating liar.'

Rejecting an apology in a letter by Collins, the judge said: 'It was a hollow sorry - not for what he had done, but for the effect of his actions.

'He has expressed not the least remorse for carrying and using a highly corrosive acid.

'The injuries must have been extremely painful and utterly terrifying.'

Lauren Trent (left) and Sophie Hall (right) were two of the victims and spoke following the sentencing

Miss Trent (pictured left after the sentencing hearing) was one of the clubbers injured and gave an emotional account of how her birthday night out turned to horror

The judge added: 'My very clear impression is that the security arrangements within the club venue were extremely poor.'

At his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, the court heard Collins had threatened a similar attack on a former partner's mother.

He received a caution for racially aggravated harassment for ringing the woman in the middle of the night and threatening her with an acid attack and to have her raped.

Collin's desperate lawyer used pics of victim on holiday to try and prove her life had 'returned to normality' One of Arthur Collin's victims has slammed the thug's lawyer for using her social media posts of her on holiday and doing yoga in a bid to show she had recovered from her injuries. Phoebe Georgiou was among those scarred for life after Collins threw acid across the dancefloor at Mangle E8 in east London. The 23-year-old was forced to undergo surgery and months of rehabilitation as a result of the attack. The acid attack left 22 clubbers, including Phoebe Georgiou (pictured), with injuries In a desperate bid to lessen her client's sentence, George Carter-Stephenson QC showed pictures of Phoebe with her family on a holiday to Greece. The barrister even used images from her social media of her practicing yoga, claiming that it showed how her life had returned 'to some normality'. She told The Sun: 'I felt quite violated when they brought up the yoga because that's been the main thing getting me through this. 'I felt so violated that they brought that up. What you put out on social media is you trying to be that confident girl.' During Collin's trial, Phoebe gave an impact statement and described to the court how she had been left in a hospital bed for weeks after the attack. 'I mourn the old Phoebe,' she said. 'The happy, confident young woman I once was. I grieve for her everyday. 'Physically and mentally I will never be the same. I have had to relive these harrowing moments daily. I was scared, traumatised and helpless. 'I thought my pain and suffering would never end. My entire summer was filled with trips to hospital and therapy treatment. I haven't stepped into a bar, club or even crowded space since that night. 'I have been given a life sentence because of you. But I am growing stronger every day.' She released these disturbing images to show the extent of the damage acid can do Advertisement

Rejecting a life sentence, although the attack was 'utterly despicable and life changing', the judge said 'no one was blinded permanently and life itself was not in danger'. But added extended sentence was 'necessary'.

Judge Lucas added: 'The carrying and use of corrosive fluid is now a significant and growing problem in London, and in particular in the east of London.

'I am quite satisfied the sentences I pass on Mr Collins will amply convey to the wider community the seriousness the courts will treat such offending.'

He said Collins had carried it out because of 'some minor perceived slight'.

Andre Phoenix, 21, of Tottenham, north London, was in the club and cleared of four counts of GBH with intent, four alternative counts of unlawfully inflicting GBH, and two counts of ABH.

Judge Lucas said: 'You crept around behind Mr Phoenix and deliberately threw what you knew to be strong acid directly towards Mr Brown's face.

'In throwing acid three times you displayed not the least concern for those on who the acid would land.' He said Collins knew 'precisely' the effects of strong acid.

Judge Lucas continued: 'Having thrown acid in the darkness of that club, you slunk away into the rear where you hid and pretended to be unconnected to the mayhem you caused.

'While making much of the harsh circumstances of your arrest, you have demonstrated not the least remorse.

'It was a deliberate and calculating act and you were intent on causing really serious harm to your victims.'

One of the victims, Sophie Hall, spoke outside court after the hearing and said her attacker has not shown 'any signs of remorse'.

She said: 'After the result today, I do feel like justice has been served. The last eight, nine months of our lives have been hell.

'Arthur didn't show any signs of remorse in court. His actions are something he is going to have to live with.

'And also the scars I have been left with are something I am going to have look at every time I look in the mirror; every time I get changed; every time I take my clothes off.

'We have been left with permanent scars for the rest of our lives. We were hoping for a life sentence. But I am very pleased with the sentence that he has received today.'

Lauren Trent was another one of the clubbers injured and gave an emotional account of how her birthday night out turned to horror in court.

Miss Trent told the court: 'It was 1.45am in the morning, that's the time my parents received a phone call from me. Imagine that phone call was your daughter on her 22nd birthday, and you were stuck two hours away in your home town.

'She tells you her skin is coming off in her hands from her neck. All she can see in the bathroom is people screaming.'

Addressing Collins as she fought back tears, Miss Trent added: 'I was celebrating my birthday that night when you threw acid across the dance floor.

'Forever my birthday will be the anniversary of the night I was involved in an acid attack.

'A place I should have been safe, and a place where hundreds of innocent people were that night.

'You changed not only my life, my best friend's life, my family, my friends and your life.'

She added: 'Just because my scars appear small to you or remain hidden, they are huge to me.'

Lauren Trent (left) was celebrating her birthday with her friend Sophie Hall (right in left hand photo). She was left with burns to her neck and chest and has called for a life sentence

Collins' claims he is broke are waved away by 'skeptical' judge Collins' lawyer told the court that he has no money to pay his victims compensation. He claimed he only had earnings of £7,000 last year. The court heard Collins had a lease on a Mercedes jeep despite being subject to a driving ban and owing £7,000 on his credit cards. He said he had no assets to pay compensation to his victims, but Judge Noel Lucas QC asked how he had been able to afford two hair transplants at a Harley Street clinic, remarking: 'I suspect it wasn't paid for by the NHS.' The judge added: 'If I sound skeptical of the information I'm being given, it's because I am. I don't believe a word of it.' Advertisement

Collins is the father of TOWIE star Ferne's newborn daughter, who was born during his trial. She claimed they will not visit him in prison.

He hurled the substance over a crowd at the Mangle E8 in Dalston, east London, on April 17.

The court heard Collins, who wore a t-shirt with 'CANDY KILLER' on, was celebrating his girlfriend's pregnancy at the Love Juice event, having told her family just hours before.

But he got into a row on the VIP dancefloor with three men at about 1am and sprayed acid at them three times, which splashed onto bystanders and burnt them.

Collins went on the run until April 22, when he was Tasered and arrested after jumping out of the first floor window of his Northamptonshire bolthole, fracturing both heel bones.

He claimed he thought it was a date rape drug which he snatched off another group, sparking a row.

But a week before, on April 10, he sent an iMessage to his sister Chenade Rowe saying: 'Tell mum to mind that little hand wash in my car acid.'

He claimed this was a reference to hair-thickening shampoo, which contained amino acid, which he disguised from Miss McCann.

Andre Phoenix, 21, of Tottenham (pictured), was cleared of four counts of GBH with intent, four alternative counts of unlawfully inflicting GBH, and two counts of ABH

In mitigation George Carter-Stephenson QC, defending, said Collins had played football for Colchester and Watford.

He added: 'Had his injury not occurred he may have had a career in football. But he went into the family business because he was no longer able to play.'

He said Collins had a 'very low' IQ and, referring to a psychologist's report, added: 'Mr Collins had enjoyed the thought of being with somebody in the public eye, but the reality of the situation was difficult for him.

'Especially given his relative naivety and cognitive ability. There may be a want to live up to what he should be in the public eye.'

Ferne McCann turns to 'best friend' and TOWIE co-star James Argent as ex is jailed for horrific acid attack Ferne McCann turned to TOWIE co-star James Argent the day before her ex-boyfriend was jailed for 20 years. McCann's ex Arthur Collins injured 22 people in an acid attack in an east London nightclub. McCann, who has attempted to distance herself from the shocking case, has not been at court for either the trial or yesterday's sentencing hearing. She was seen out with Mr Argent, known as 'Arg', in Brentwood, Essex yesterday, after posting a picture of them together on Instagram . TOWIE star Ferne McCann was seen out in Brentwood yesterday before the sentencing hearring on Tuesday Ferne posted this picture of the pair at her home in Brentwood, Essex, yesterday afternoon She wrote on the picture-sharing app: 'Argy boy has popped round.' In a video she posted online, she added: 'Arg often comes round to see me and Sunday, it's lovely. He just loves the Brentwood.' She then posted a video of Argent watching himself on TV. The pair have previously told of their close friendship and Ferne recently praised Mr Argent in her documentary Ferne McCann: First Time Mum. McCann visited acid attacker Collins in jail while he was awaiting sentencing, but told him that was the last time she would do so. Speaking to the Sunday People last month, Miss McCann said: '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.' McCann with friend and former co-star James Argent ahead of the hearing The pair were seen jumping into a BMW before McCann posted a video of them together online She said she told him: 'This is the last time you will ever see us.' Since Collins' conviction, McCann has been appearing on TV in a documentary about giving birth to the criminal's baby. In the show, Ferne McCann: First Time Mum, which aired on ITVBe last week, she described her life since Collin's arrest as 'absolute hell'. But her comments angered the real victims of the attack. Phoebe Georgiou told The Sun: 'It's like rubbing salt on an open wound. She has disregarded our feelings. We are the real victims.' The 23-year-old said it felt like McCann was 'cashing in' and making money from her connection to the sickening crime. Another, unnamed. victim told the paper's website: 'She's making money out of this, it's all just me, me, me. Every time her face pops up, I think of Arthur Collins.' Advertisement

Victims Lauren Trent (left) and Sophie Hall (pictured, left, at a previous hearing and, right after the attack) told of the lasting impact of Collins crime ahead of his sentencing

Lawyers for Collins trawled through victims' social media posts to prove they had returned to 'some normality', including holiday snaps they presented to the judge.

Luke Ponte, prosecuting, said: 'One might think all that they show is young people trying with some fortitude to get on with their lives.'

And the judge said: 'What some people consider a minor injury, others consider the most shameful injury imaginable.'

At his sentencing hearing, the court heard he referred to the attack as a 'stupid little mistake', in a letter to the judge.

The court was told of a string of offences Collins committed before April's acid attack. His past offences included a police caution for threatening the mother of a former girlfriend with acid and calling her a 'f****** foreigner' in April 2013.

The acid attack happened while Collins was subject to a suspended sentence for a vicious assault on a man in a south London nightclub in 2015, the court heard.

Giving her impact statement, another victim, Phoebe Georgiou, said: 'I mourn the old Phoebe. The happy, confident young woman I once was. I grieve for her everyday.

'Physically and mentally I will never be the same. I have had to relive these harrowing moments daily. I was scared, traumatised and helpless.

'I thought my pain and suffering would never end. My entire summer was filled with trips to hospital and therapy treatment. I haven't stepped into a bar, club or even crowded space since that night.

Drug-dealer's spiralling rap sheet of crime Collins has previous convictions for using threatening and offensive words and was cautioned for calling a former partner's mother a 'c***' and a 'f***ing foreigner'. The acid attack happened while he was subject to a suspended sentence for a vicious assault on a man in a south London nightclub in 2015. He punched his victim in the face, leaving him needing 20 stitches, in what was described as 'an unprovoked punch'. Prosecutor Luke Ponte told the court: 'He was also given a caution in respect of racially or religiously aggravated harassment without violence that took place on 1 April 2013. He was cautioned on 11 April 2013. 'He threatened the mother of an ex-girlfriend over the phone to have her raped and throw acid in her face. The victim had taken a call from Mr Collins on her mobile. She heard a male voice saying 'You're a c***, you're a f***ing foreigner'. Advertisement

'I have been given a life sentence because of you. But I am growing stronger every day.'

And Sophie Hall, 22, who also broke down on the stand, said: 'I was in extreme pain, and my skin and eyes were burning.

'I was in terrible pain. I couldn't see properly. I was crying, I was in shock, sat on the floor.

'My clothes had all melted. It was absolute mayhem going on around me. I was screaming in agony. I was frightened I was going to be blind.

'Every time I look in the mirror I can see my scars. And even though they are healed considerably eight months later, I am scarred on my face, arms and shoulders.

'The doctors have told me I will always be scared for the rest of life.'

Following the harrowing victim personal statements, Mr Carter-Stephenson QC, defending, produced sheaves of posts taken from the victims' social media accounts apparently proving their lives had returned to some kind of normality.

The judge was shown images of the girls in swimsuits on holiday and out in nightclubs.

Mr Carter-Stephenson said: 'What I want you to do is simply appreciate that there has to be balance and to a certain extent they have returned to some normality following this.

'These victim personal statements give the impression that this has been all prevailing and has pervaded into every area of their lives and that's simply not correct.'

He said he was not trying to undermine the victims, but added: 'It's important that the court doesn't create an imbalance against Mr Collins.'

He added the fact the victims had healed to a certain extent was 'more good fortune than down to Mr Collins, but having said so it is an important feature.'

A total of 22 people reported injuries to the police, 16 of whom suffered chemical burn injuries and three people were temporarily blinded - one of whom still suffers from blurred vision in one eye.

It was thought the attack was part of a feud between rival gangs which 'spiralled out of control'.

Prosecutor Ciro D'Alessio told a pre-trial hearing that the acid attack 'bears the hallmarks of both drug-related activity and gang related activity'.

Police had found a fully functioning cannabis farm, along with weapons including a taser and two cans of CS gas at Collins' home.

'This was essentially an incident between one set of gang members against another set of gang members,' prosecutor Mr D'Alessio told a previous court hearing.

He said police intelligence suggested Collins had 'been both on the giving end and receiving end of previous gangland incidents leading up to this.'

Collins admitted throwing the bottle of fluid over clubbers but said he did not know it was acid.

He had been dating TOWIE star Ferne McCann for about a year before the attack, but she broke up with him shortly after April 16.

Isobella Fraser suffered burns to her back and arm when she was caught up in the acid attack

Victims confront Collins with emotional statements of how his callous attack changed their lives Victims of Collins' acid attack took to the witness box during his sentencing hearing. Phoebe Georgiou, Lauren Trent and Sophie Hall read out parts of their victim impact statements as relatives and friends of Collins looked on from the public gallery. Miss Georgiou, 23, suffered extensive burns to her arm and chest when Collins threw acid into the packed nightclub floor. Lauren was out celebrating her 22nd birthday. She told how she had to ring her parents and tell them her skin was 'coming off' due to the acid burns She told the court: 'I mourn the old feeling the old feeling. I mourn the happy and confident woman I once was. I grieve for her every day. 'That fateful Easter Sunday the day my life was taken from me. Physically and mentally I will never be the same. I was scared traumatised and helpless. 'My mental recovery has been the biggest challenge. Thoughts that filled my mind were suicidal - 'do I want to carry on living?' 'I am constantly in fear of being attacked. I couldn't cope with the pain. I thought my pain and suffering would never end. My summer was filled with trips to hospital. 'You couldn't even find a thread of human decency to take responsibility for the damage you have caused. I have been given a life sentence because of you.' She also told the court she had to return to hospital because two abscesses had grown underneath her burns. The doctors said this was a result of the caustic substance thrown. Sophie Hall told the court the attack had changed her life Lauren Trent, 22, was celebrating her birthday with friends at the club that evening, including fellow victim and best friend Sophie Hall, also 22. Miss Trent suffered third degree burns to her neck, stomach, hands, chest, legs and foot. She said: 'The 16 April is my birthday. I was celebrating my 22nd birthday that night. Forever my birthday will be an anniversary of the night I was involved in an acid attack, a crime that neither I or anyone should have been a victim of.' Starting to cry she said: 'You changed not only my life, my best friend's life, my family, my friend's and you life. But you don't know what it feels like to have acid thrown at you. The pain, what it feels like to have acid burning, your skin blistering, and you can't do anything to stop it. 'Imagine that phone call is from your daughter on her 22nd birthday. You are stuck two hour away in your home town and there's nothing you can do. She tells you her skin is coming off in her hands from her neck. All she can see is people in the bathroom screaming and their faces unrecognisable. 'Just because my physical appearance is fine doesn't mean I don't have my struggle.' Sophie Hall was splashed by the acid on her face, blinding her temporarily and also scarring the upper part of her arm. She said: 'Shortly before 1am I was sat on a chair surrounded by my friends discussing leaving when my life changed. 'I was in extreme pain. My skin and eyes were burning. Obviously something corrosive was on my skin. I was in terrible pain. I couldn't see properly I was crying. 'I couldn't see how badly I was injured. I was screaming in agony. I was frightened I was blind. It's very difficult for me to give a detailed explanation of what happened that night and the next day because I was in so much pain. She said when she was finally able to see her injuries after her eyes were treated she said: 'My face was clearly a mess. 'I was so badly burnt and I knew this was going to scar me for life. 'Eight months later I'm scarred on my face, arms and shoulders.' Similarly to Miss Georgiou, Miss Hall had to return to hospital to have an abscess underneath the skin removed which she said has left her with 'another scar'. Advertisement