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A young Smethwick woman was left with “terrible burns” after being doused with acid in a revenge attack orchestrated by her former Muslim pensioner lover, a jury has been told.

Vikki Horsman suffered eight per cent burns over her body and saw her skin blister in a mirror after she was doused with sulphuric acid in a horrific assault on her own doorstep on April 15 this year.

Her 80-year-old ex, Mohammed Rafiq, who is more than 60 years her senior, was described by the prosecution as “controlling”.

Barrister Anthony Warner said Vikki had even converted to Islam and changed her name to Aleena Rafiq in 2013 to suit the old man after they embarked on a sexual relationship.

She had lost her mother and father in quick succession and “came to rely” on Rafiq, who bought her a car.

But Rafiq, of Cheshire Road, Smethwick, became unhappy with Ms Horsman’s increasing independence, Mr Warner said.

He was increasingly “obsessed” with her movements, even going through her personal possessions.

On one occasion Rafiq had sent her photographs of used condom packets he had apparently found in her bedroom.

Rafiq, sitting in the dock listening to proceedings through earphones, denies inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, alongside two other men.

The prosecution alleges he planned the attack with co-accused Shannon Heaps, 23, and 25-year-old Steven Holmes, who is said to have carried out the actual attack in the porch of a house in Tividale.

Heaps, of Queens Avenue, Tividale, and Holmes, of Allan Close, are standing trial

at Wolverhampton Crown Court

together with Rafiq, who also denies a charge of perverting the course of justice.

Mr Warner said nursing home worker Vikki, 19, described how she was told a man was at the front door of the house by Rafiq, who had himself only popped in a few minutes before the attack.

When she opened the door “a black liquid” was doused over her, hitting her directly in the face and neck.

“She screamed loudly and felt a terrible burning pain,” said Mr Warner. As she was sent reeling backwards by the assault, the prosecution barrister described how the victim saw the skin on her face “blistering” in a nearby mirror.

He added that Rafiq “may not have bargained for the fact that, in her terror, the victim of the attack would get some of the black liquid transferred to him”.

The older man’s defence is expected to say he was also a victim of the attack.

The Crown say witnesses and mobile phone evidence will prove Rafiq spoke and met with both Heaps and Holmes in the hours beforehand.

Mr Warner told the jury they would also hear from a man who was present during a meeting between the three, hearing Rafiq tell Holmes he wanted the younger man to deliver “a gift to a girlfriend”, and that Heaps would “show him the address”.

He added that before the attack on Vikki, Rafiq handed a carrier bag allegedly containing the acid to Holmes.

The jury of seven women and five men were also told how one witness described hearing “a loud scream”, with Holmes appearing moments later and telling them to “run”.

Heaps and Holmes were also pictured on CCTV heading to and from the address, with the footage shown in court to the jury.

Mr Warner said Rafiq had later given witness statements to the police which were “both misleading and untruthful”, supplying them with the names of men unconnected to the assault, and false descriptions of the attackers.

Holmes, Heaps and Rafiq denied any involvement in the attack, with Holmes telling detectives: “I didn’t do it.”

Afterwards, Vikki was treated for deep burns requiring specialist surgery to her face, neck, shoulders, and upper leg, and has “many years” of treatment ahead. Jurors are expected to hear her testimony later today.

The trial is estimated to last up to three weeks.

(Proceeding)