Rejected medical student who threw acid at his ex is jailed

BY TOBY PORTER

A medical student who threw acid over his ex-girlfriend while disguised in a so-called fatsuit has been jailed for 15 years.

Milad Rouf, from Eltham, put on the disguise, which also included makeup and sunglasses, before throwing sulphuric acid over his ex and former colleague Rym Alaoui.

She was maimed, had to undergo repeated operations and is still blind in one eye after being attacked on her doorstep in May.

She has also been left unable to close her eyes or move her neck.

A search of Rouf’s flat after the incident revealed a “shopping list” detailing his disguise, which included a “fatsuit” and “black morph suit”.

The 25-year-old, who now lives in Cardiff, travelled to his family’s home in Eltham and on to Brighton, where he carried out the attack.

The acid was so concentrated it scorched the paintwork off Ms Alaoui’s front door.

Rouf was also wearing a face visor when he attacked Ms Alaoui. She did not recognise him as she opened the door.

Rouf showed his ex-girlfriend a note and threw the acid in her face as she looked down to read it.

He dumped his disguise in bins across the city before buying new clothes and fleeing back to Wales.

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.

Rouf knew better than most the effect sulphuric acid would have on the body, the judge said, adding that the attack was beyond understanding.

Rouf and Ms Alaoui, who is in her 20s and is a junior doctor, studied medicine together at Cardiff University where they had a brief relationship before Ms Alaoui ended it and moved to Brighton in April.

Judge Laing described the motives for the attack as inexplicable other than simple jealousy and anger at being rejected.

In a statement, Ms Alaoui said she feared for her future after Rouf robbed her of her career and young adult life.

She wrote: “When I came to answer the door that day, a substance I now know to be sulphuric acid was thrown into my face.

“Since the day I was subject to this horrific attack, my life has changed. I live in pain and fear of my future wellbeing and financial hardship.

“The impact of the attack includes severe damage to my right eye, which I am still unable to see out of, damage to eyelids and damage to skin on my face, neck and arm.

“I am unable to move my neck and close my eyelids. I have had five surgeries. I’m still trying to come to terms with more procedures and operations.

“I am unable to attend work or live my life. I have been robbed of years of my career and young adult life. The psychological effect had been colossal on me, my family and loved ones.

“I cannot begin to imagine why somebody would commit such a premeditated and horrible attack. I cannot understand what was in his mind.”