A self-confessed acid attacker has revealed rivals' girlfriends are targeted because they worry more about their looks - and that thugs dip knives in chemicals so wounds won't heal.

A new documentary by Vice investigates the sharp rise in attacks using corrosive substances in the UK.

Since 2010 there have been 1,800 reported acid attacks in the London, with a steep 70% rise between 2015 to 2016.

A self-confessed acid attacker has revealed that they target rivals' girlfriends because they care more about their looks

As the number of victims grows, data suggests Britain has the worst record in the developed world for assaults with household acids like bleach and drain cleaner.

And an anonymous attacker made the shocking admission that 'nine times out of ten' such attacks would be reserved for girls.

'I've heard about people putting [acid] on a knife and stabbing someone so their wounds won't heal,' the anonymous attacker said.

'On a guy, I probably wouldn't, I'd probaby wouldn't, I'd do something physical.

'On a girl, they love their beauty, so hurt them.

'Cause on a guy if you get scarred, it's a scar. You show it to your guys... "Yeah, this happened to me, innit. Yeah, it's nothing, it's nothing.

'But, a girl, it's like "look at my face" - you know what I'm saying?'

'Nine times out of ten, I'll use it on a girl, honestly, innit.'

The subject also recounted one attack he and a friend had made on someone from an opposing gang when a male victim was physically assaulted and his girlfriend had acid thrown in her face outside a Tesco.

He said: '[We] waited for them, they came out. I'm racking up the guy just punching him and whatnot.

'And my boy he just undid the bottle and he just splashed the girl.

'She started screaming, her face was all messed up.'

The subject also recounted one attack he and a friend had made on someone from an opposing gang when a male victim was physically assaulted and his girlfriend had acid thrown in her face

Only a quarter of recorded attacks have led to charges being brought, for fear of a repeated attack or a lack of trail for police to pinpoint attackers.

The man explains that this is due to the fact that talking to the police is something that simply does not happen in his neighbourhood, and even claimed that his victims deserved their life-changing injuries.

'This is block war', he said. 'No snitching, simple as that no snitching.'

He added: 'With the war on the mandem, if someone got acid in their face, trust me, they did something.

'No ifs no buts, they deserved that.'

The film also shares the story of Samir Hussain, a victim of an unprovoked attack who has been left with physical and psychological scars after sulphuric acid was thrown over him outside a cinema.

The film also shares the story of Samir Hussain, a victim of an unprovoked attack who has been left with physical and psychological scars after sulphuric acid

Mr Hussain was struck as he left a cinema, where the attackers had already been throwing sweets at him inside the auditorium

He explained that he was struck as he left a cinema, where the attackers had already been throwing sweets at him inside the auditorium.

He was repeatedly kicked and punched on the floor and his car was smashed before the corrosive substance was thrown on him.

He said: 'My first thought was 'why me' because I hadn't done anything wrong. At the same time, seering pain - I had third degree burns on the side of my face.

'My identity has changed because of what happened. I am scarred for life and I'm not the person I wanted to be.

'Closure is probably never going to happen, because I am scarred for life so when I look in the mirror or if I ever have a happy time in my life and look back at memories I’m always going to be scarred now.'

It comes after the victim of a horrifying acid attack orchestrated by her possessive ex-boyfriend which left her with one ear appeared on ITV show Lorraine demanding harsher punishments for attackers.

Adele Bellis, 25, appeared on ITV show Lorraine demanding harsher punishments for attackers, while the tragic case of Resham Khan (right) has also recently come to light

Adele Bellis, 25, lost an ear, was left partially bald and has permanent scarring following the sulphuric acid attack at a bus stop in her home town of Lowestoft, Suffolk, on August 14 2014.

It was the culmination of a six-month campaign by her former partner of seven years, Anthony Riley, 26, of Lowestoft. Five months earlier she had been stabbed in the face by one of his friends.

The tragic case of Resham Khan, 21, and her cousin Jameel Muhktar, 37, who both suffered 'life-changing' burns after an attack in Beckton, East London, has also come to light recently.

A 16-year-old boy appeared in court today to deny carrying out a 72 minute acid attack spree against six people.

She said: 'They should get a longer sentence in prison. I think there should be a set sentence in place, a hard sentence. We are alive but we have to live with the trauma. I still have half a head of hair, no ear. I'm still having counselling and treatment.'

The charges come after moped-riding suspect along with an accomplice, attacked the victims, squirting acid on them before stealing their bikes, in a 90-minute crime spree.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared charged with 13 offences in connection to the attacks on Thursday night in north and east London

Five acid attacks took place in a 72-minute period in London on Thursday night, leaving one victim with life-changing injuries on Hackney Road junction with Queensbridge Road (pictured). Other delivery drivers rushed to the scene after the attack

The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared charged with 13 offences in connection to the attacks on Thursday night in north and east London.

Police had initially said five men were targeted but the court heard there were six victims in connection with the alleged incidents.

Another high-profile incident saw 20 people injured by acid spray in a London nightclub in March.

Arthur Collins, ex-boyfriend of TOWIE star Ferne McCann, was charged with that attack.