'Her thoughts are with the innocent people': New mum Ferne McCann breaks silence following ex Arthur Collins' acid attack conviction... as she condemns his violence

In April, Arthur hurled the corrosive substance over a crowd at Mangle E8 in Dalston, east London, in one of Britain's worst acid attacks
The 25-year-old was found guilty of five counts of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and nine counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm
Ferne, 26, gave birth to their first child last week, a daughter called Sunday

Published: 13:59 GMT, 16 November 2017 | Updated: 16:31 GMT, 16 November 2017

e-mail

239

View
comments

Ferne McCann has spoken for the first time since her former boyfriend Arthur Collins was found guilty of carrying out an acid attack over the Easter weekend.

In a statement released to MailOnline, the new mum said: 'Ferne's thoughts are of course with the innocent people caught up in the events at Mangle last April. No one should ever be faced with violence on a night out.

'Having given birth days ago, Ferne is focusing on being the best mother she can be. She long ago accepted that she would be doing this alone and is determined to provide the best possible future for her daughter.'

Scroll down for video

Happier times: Ferne McCann has spoken for the first time since her former boyfriend Arthur Collins was found guilty of carrying out an acid attack over the Easter weekend

Arthur, the father of Ferne's newborn daughter Sunday, faces a 'substantial' jail sentence for hurling the corrosive substance over a crowd at Mangle E8 in Dalston, east London, in one of Britain's worst acid attacks.

He was celebrating the news of Ferne's pregnancy on the night in question, after which he claimed he didn't realise the liquid was acid - but a court heard he had got into a fight with a man he was aiming at.

Phoebe Georgiou, 23, and Lauren Trent, 22, were celebrating their birthdays on April 17 when they were caught by the acid flung by Arthur. Once active and outgoing, Miss Georgiou now confines herself to her family home in north London and suffers night terrors and anxiety in crowded places.

On Monday, he was found guilty of five counts of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and nine counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm after the April acid attack.

Going it alone: The mother-of-one acknowledged that she would be going ahead with parenting her daughter Sunday, alone

Moving on: In a statement released to MailOnline, the new mum said: 'Ferne's thoughts are of course with the innocent people caught up in the events at Mangle last April. No one should ever be faced with violence on a night out'

'Substantial sentence': Arthur, the father of Ferne's newborn child, faces a 'substantial' jail sentence for hurling the corrosive substance over a crowd at Mangle E8 in Dalston, east London, in one of Britain's worst acid attacks

On Tuesday, it was revealed Ferne is 'devastated' after being told Arthur faces years in jail for one of Britain's worst acid attacks.

She split from thug Arthur shortly after he injured 22 people by throwing acid across a crowded nightclub dancefloor in London. Ferne has not been seen in public since Collins was convicted of 14 GBH and ABH charges on Monday.

A friend said she is 'in bits' over the attack and is trying to come to terms with how Collins could have done such a thing.

The source told MailOnline: 'She is having a really tough time. She is putting on a brave face to the world but behind the scenes, her family are really worried about her.

Flash times: The source told MailOnline: 'She is having a really tough time. She is putting on a brave face to the world but behind the scenes, her family are really worried about her'

Hard times: The source told MailOnline: 'She is having a really tough time. She is putting on a brave face to the world but behind the scenes, her family are really worried about her

'This is her maternity leave. She's really emotional and can't believe what has happened. She never thought in a million years he would do this. She's in bits. She's just doing the best she can but is absolutely devastated.'

Arthur is said to have been making desperate calls to Ferne from HMP Thameside in south London, where he was kept while on remand. The 25-year-old has already been attacked by a fellow inmate and was forced to wear special prison clothes over fears he might try to escape.

Ferne announced she was splitting from Collins at the time of his arrest and has not been seen in public since he was found guilty yesterday. Her usually-busy social media accounts have also stayed silent since he was told he faces a 'substantial' jail sentence yesterday afternoon.

A source told The Sun: 'He has been regularly trying to call Ferne and is understandably finding it very difficult being without her and their baby.'