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80-year-old man guilty of plotting acid attack on teenage girlfriend who broke up with him 80-year-old man guilty of plotting acid attack on teenage girlfriend who broke up with him
(about 1 hour later)
A pensioner has been found guilty of plotting an acid attack on his 19-year-old girlfriend after she broke up with him.A pensioner has been found guilty of plotting an acid attack on his 19-year-old girlfriend after she broke up with him.
Mohammed Rafiq, an 80-year old man, was found guilty of organising the attack on his teenage ex-girlfriend Vikki Horsman.Mohammed Rafiq, an 80-year old man, was found guilty of organising the attack on his teenage ex-girlfriend Vikki Horsman.
Ms Horsman was left with serious burns to her face and neck as a result of having acid thrown in her face. The attack which occurred after she told Rafiq she was ending a relationship with him due to his controlling behaviour. Ms Horsman was left with serious burns to her face and neck as a result of having acid thrown in her face. The attack occurred after she told Rafiq she was ending a relationship with him due to his controlling behaviour.
Two other men, Steven Holmes and Shannon Heaps, were convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm. The pensioner enlisted Holmes and Heaps to carry out the attack and initially claimed he had been a victim.Two other men, Steven Holmes and Shannon Heaps, were convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm. The pensioner enlisted Holmes and Heaps to carry out the attack and initially claimed he had been a victim.
He was initially believed by police as he suffered minor burns when splashed with the corrosive liquid.He was initially believed by police as he suffered minor burns when splashed with the corrosive liquid.
In a statement released after the verdict Ms Horsman described “sleepless nights” and said she been attacked because of her courage to escape a controlling relationship.In a statement released after the verdict Ms Horsman described “sleepless nights” and said she been attacked because of her courage to escape a controlling relationship.
 "What happened that day changed my life forever. I have had to undergo lots of treatment for the burns and the damage those people caused,” she said. "What happened that day changed my life forever. I have had to undergo lots of treatment for the burns and the damage those people caused,” she said.
"I still have sleepless nights and keep leaving my home to stay with friends and relatives as I can't bear to be on my own. This is what those people have done to me - all because I had the courage to be my own person and escape a controlling man.” "I still have sleepless nights and keep leaving my home to stay with friends and relatives as I can't bear to be on my own. This is what those people have done to me - all because I had the courage to be my own person and escape a controlling man."
"I know I have to be strong and am pleased that justice has been done but no matter how satisfied I am to see Rafiq and the others go to jail, that won't turn the clock back and take away the scars they have left me with.""I know I have to be strong and am pleased that justice has been done but no matter how satisfied I am to see Rafiq and the others go to jail, that won't turn the clock back and take away the scars they have left me with."
Detective Constable Jason Moseley, the investigating officer in the case, said the victim now had to rebuild her life after the abusive relationship and its life-changing conclusion.Detective Constable Jason Moseley, the investigating officer in the case, said the victim now had to rebuild her life after the abusive relationship and its life-changing conclusion.
"This was a horrifying and complex case which centred around a controlling relationship,” he said."This was a horrifying and complex case which centred around a controlling relationship,” he said.
"Rafiq's young ex-partner was seriously injured and left with devastating, lasting scars, which one can only presume was his intent given the nature of the planned attack. He recruited two people to carry out the attack on his behalf and then tried to claim that he was also a victim."Rafiq's young ex-partner was seriously injured and left with devastating, lasting scars, which one can only presume was his intent given the nature of the planned attack. He recruited two people to carry out the attack on his behalf and then tried to claim that he was also a victim.
"His victim now has to rebuild her life and move on from what was ultimately a controlling, abusive relationship that she paid a high price to leave.""His victim now has to rebuild her life and move on from what was ultimately a controlling, abusive relationship that she paid a high price to leave."
The attack took place in Tividale, near West Bromwich in the West Midlands. The convicted men are due to be sentenced next Friday.The attack took place in Tividale, near West Bromwich in the West Midlands. The convicted men are due to be sentenced next Friday.