Brighton acid attack: Dr. Rym Alaoui suffered life-changing injuries – A jilted medical student who disguised himself in a fat suit and black face before throwing acid over his ex-girlfriend in a meticulously prepared jealous rage was today jailed for 15 years.
Dr. Rym Alaoui suffered life-changing injuries when a former colleague and boyfriend threw acid in her face in a horrific, premeditated, and planned attack on her doorstep in Brighton.
Milad Rouf, 25, disguised himself as a large, black woman before throwing sulphuric acid over his ex-girlfriend when she answered her door in May.
Dr. Alaoui suffered life-changing injuries to her face, neck, and chest. Lewes Crown Court heard she is unable to close her eyes or move her neck and has lost sight in her right eye.
Rouf, from Cardiff, armed himself with an acid attack kit before travelling to his family in Eltham in South East London and on to Brighton where he lay in wait for his victim.
Dr. Rym Alaoui suffered life-changing injuries when she had acid thrown over her in the horrifying attack in Brighton in May
Following a search of Rouf’s home in Cardiff, police officers found a ‘shopping list’ detailing his disguise
The second page of Rouf’s ‘shopping list’ for his disguise which was discovered in his flat during a search by police following a search of Rouf’s flat after the attack, police officers found a ‘shopping list’ detailing his disguise.
Her Honour Judge Christine Laing QC told Rouf she had no doubt he was a danger to women before sending him to prison on an extended sentence of 15 years.
‘I can’t move my neck or close my eyes and had five painful life-changing and appearance altering operations since my ex-boyfriend threw acid in my face’
The victim of an acid attack who has been left unable to see out of one eye has described the devastating impact it has had on her life.
Former Cardiff University student Dr. Rym El Alaoui was attacked outside her Brighton home by her former partner and medical student Milad Rouf on May 20.
Having disguised himself with make-up, a wig, and a fat suit, Rouf traveled from his home in Newport Road, Roath, Cardiff, to Brightin via London, having made elaborate plans to permanently scar Dr. El Alaoui, who ended their relationship in March.
She received immediate and painful injuries to her face, chest, neck and arms, despite receiving prompt treatment at the Royal Sussex Hospital where she worked as a junior doctor.
Rouf later pleaded guilty to applying a corrosive fluid with intent and was given a 15-year extended prison sentence at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday.
In a victim impact statement read out to the court, Dr El Alaoui said she found it hard to believe how anyone could have committed such a horrific crime.
She said: “Since the day I was subjected to this horrific attack my life has changed tremendously whereby I have lived in constant physical and psychological pain and I live in fear of my future wellbeing and socio-economic hardship. I have suffered substantial painful injuries as a result of this attack. The impact includes severe damage to my right eye which I am still unable to see out of, damage to my eyelashes, and the skin of my face, neck, chest, and arms.
“I am unable to fully move my neck or close my eyelids. So far I have had five painful life and appearance-altering surgeries. I am still coming to terms with that my life for the foreseeable future will involve more hospital appointments, procedures, and operations.
“I was working as a junior doctor and living independently but now I am unable to attend work or live my life as normal. I have been robbed of years of my career and young adult life. I have felt lost without the regular routine of work and not knowing whether my previous career will be available to me and anxious of living in financial hardship. I have had to rely on loved ones and charity to allow me to continue to live. The psychological effect of this attack has been colossal on me and my family and loved ones, those around me needed psychological therapy.
“I cannot begin to imagine how or why someone could commit such a horrific pre-meditated attack, it’s impossible to fathom, find a piece with, or justify what was going on in his mind. As a result of this crime, I am facing years of operations, procedures, and psychological therapy. I am coming to terms with physical and mental injuries.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the first responders, the detectives, and the healthcare staff involved since the moment I was attacked, as well as my loved ones who have supported me and continued to show me love and care through this life-changing assault.”
