Arthur Collins trial: 'Acid' in my car was secret hair thickening shampoo, Towie star's ex tells court

Accused: Arthur Collins with ex-girlfriend Ferne McCann
Fiona Simpson31 October 2017
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The ex-boyfriend of TOWIE star Ferne McCann said texts about “acid” in his car referred to hair-thickening shampoo, a court heard.

Arthur Collins, 25, is accused of hurling corrosive liquid over a crowd of revellers at an east London night club.

The father of the reality TV star’s unborn child told prosecutors he hid his special shampoo in his car so his lover did not find out about his two hair transplants.

Collins is standing trial alongside Andre Phoenix, 21, over the alleged attack at the Mangle E8 nightclub in Dalston, east London, on April 17.

More than a dozen people were injured in the incident after a row broke out between Collins and another group of men.

He admits throwing the substance but insists he snatched the bottle out of another man's hand and threw it, believing he planned to spike someone's drink with it.

But on April 10, a week before the attack, he sent a text to his sister reading: "Tell mum to mind that little hand wash in my car acid".

Accused: Arthur Collins
Metropolitan Police

Collins said the "hand wash" was actually a hair-thickening shampoo containing amino acid and coconut oil which he was concerned about his young nieces finding and "biting".

Giving evidence on Tuesday, he told Wood Green Crown Court that he kept his shampoo in his car so Ms McCann did not find out about his hair loss.

When asked what she would have said if she had seen the bottle, he replied: "She would have asked me why I was using a shampoo like that.

"She would have asked me why I was using that hair product."

George Carter-Stephenson QC, for Collins, asked: "How good are you at misleading her? Can she tell when you are lying to her?"

"Yes she can," Collins replied.

Jurors were also shown other products he had tried including Regain and Professional-C Serum.

Collins' sister Chinade Rowe said she was well aware of her brother's hair loss and had even massaged his special shampoo into his scalp.

She referred to it as "that acid s***", jurors heard.

Collins previously told the court he believed he was throwing away a date rape drug when he threw the acid on the crowd.

When asked by prosecutor Luke Ponte if she had come to court to lie for her brother, she replied: "Absolutely not".

Mr Ponte asked: "Why did you have to massage the shampoo into his head? Why was he unable to do that himself?"

Ms Rowe said: "Because I had better massage techniques and I could do it better for him.

"If you try and massage your head yourself it's not the same as someone doing it for you."

Her brother was arrested several days after the incident hiding out in an unfurnished flat in Northamptonshire.

Collins, of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, denies five counts of grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent and nine counts of actual bodily harm (ABH) against 14 people.

Phoenix, of Clyde Road, Tottenham, north London, denies four counts of GBH and two counts of ABH.

The trial continues.

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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