Aspiring model and student at Manchester Met University, Resham Khan was out celebrating her 21st birthday with her cousin, Jameel Muhktar, 37, when John Tomlin, 25, had hurled corrosive fluid at them while they sat in their car at a red light in East London, on 21st June at around 9am. Tomlin, who had previously admitted to causing grievous bodily harm has now admitted the charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Tomlin, who has previous convictions of violence, changed his plea before the jury were sworn at Snaresbrook Crown Court. He is due to be sentenced in January, and could be given the maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Judge Canavan has ordered a report on further details of the injuries Resham Khan and Jameel Muhktar had suffered. She said, “I also need to know the prognosis of the injuries suffered at the time. This is no way disrespectful to the victims; they well understand what their injuries are but they might not be able to assist me with what the prognosis is.”
Khan suffered severe life changing facial scarring. She had a skin graft and her eyesight is permanently damaged. Muhktar was burnt severely and had to be put in an induced coma. His right eye is damaged, and was left deaf in one ear, while also having extensive burns on his upper body, face, neck, back and arms.
In a blog, Khan expressed how this attack has left her “too petrified to walk to my local shop”.
This incident has caused a lot of damage to Muhktar, not only physically but to his self-esteem as well. He stated, “I'm embarrassed to even talk to people. I don't go outside anymore. I can't even look at myself in the mirror.”
Tomlin is being kept in remand and will be sentenced on 26th January 2018.
