Ex-boyfriend of TOWIE star Ferne McCann threw acid in crowded nightclub, court hears

Arthur Collins and co-defendant Andre Phoenix accused of tossing corrosive substance at clubbers on dancefloor of Mangle E8 in Dalston, east London

Arthur Collins (PA)

The ex-boyfriend of reality TV star Ferne McCann, wearing a T-shirt with the word “Killer” across the front, threw acid in a club full Bank Holiday revellers, a court has heard.

Arthur Collins, 25, who is also the father of The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) star McCann's unborn child, and co-defendant Andre Phoenix were charged after clubbers were doused with a corrosive substance at Mangle E8 nightclub in Dalston, east London, on 17 April.

Collins, of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, denies five counts of grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, and 11 counts of actual bodily harm against 16 people.

Phoenix, of Clyde Road, Tottenham, denies the same offences.

Prosecutor Luke Ponte told Wood Green Crown Court the incident started with an altercation between a group of men, with some pushing and shoving.

He added: “It is not clear exactly how this trouble started.

“But it is very clear how it ended - suddenly and decisively, and not at all in keeping with what had gone before.

“One of the young men, perhaps perceiving the threat of a knife, threw a bottle or a container of acid into the face of another young man.

“As that man went down in pain, the aggressor threw acid a second time directed towards another man, and then threw acid a third time.”

Jurors heard that 16 people on the crowded dancefloor at the popular nightclub were injured in the attack.

Mr Ponte said: “There is no question as to who threw the acid.

“It was Arthur Collins. He does not dispute that he threw the acid and it is perhaps not surprising that he does not dispute it as the confrontation, the first throw, the second throwing and the third throwing are all captured quickly but clearly on the club's CCTV.

“He was assisted, and we'll come to how in a moment, by his good friend Andre Phoenix.

“The Crown's case is that these two friends came to the club together, armed with acid together, they stayed together, got drunk together, got in a fight together, threw it together, stayed around together and finally left together.”

Jurors were shown CCTV of Collins and Phoenix arriving at the club at about 9pm before getting into a confrontation with a group of men around four hours later.

At around 1am Collins is seen throwing a liquid towards one of the men on the dancefloor.

PA