Girl bully hurled bleach in face of aspiring model

AN aspiring model was left feeling suicidal after being targeted by a bully in a premeditated bleach attack, a court heard.
Victoria Smith, who models under the name Toria Melody. Pictures: Ross Parry AgencyVictoria Smith, who models under the name Toria Melody. Pictures: Ross Parry Agency
Victoria Smith, who models under the name Toria Melody. Pictures: Ross Parry Agency

Victoria Smith had a cup of bleach thrown in her eyes by a fellow student Rebecca Morris who had been harassing and bullying her.

Ms Smith, who was 17 at the time, was temporarily blinded for over a month and was scared she may never see again.

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Her vision had returned but was still blurry in bright light and she needed to use eye drops.

Hull Crown Court was told she was only saved from worse injury by a friend who had the presence of mind to dowse the bleach with Coca-Cola.

The hearing was told there was ill-feeling between the pair and Miss Smith had complained to the college about harassment and bullying. As Morris threw the bleach, she shouted: “There’s your shot of bleach, instead of your shot of vodka. That is for getting me kicked out of college”.

Stephen Welch, prosecuting, said Ms Smith had been lured to a house party on Albert Avenue, in Hull, with friends, but had become uneasy after sitting downstairs for 30 minutes. She was asked to go upstairs but decided to leave the house, and had looked up and seen Morris in the upstairs window.

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After ringing her friends they continued down the road, only to be approached by Morris.

Mr Welch said: “The defendant shouted out her name. She saw Rebecca Morris was holding a small cup of bleach in her hand and as she approached the defendant threw the contents of the cup into Victoria Smith’s face.

“At this point Victoria Smith could small the bleach. Although she shut her eyes, some of the bleach went into her mouth and eyes.”

After the incident the hair on Ms Smith’s scalpline turned green and began to fall out. She had since shaven it off and was now wearing a wig. She had also given up attending college.

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Mr Welch said: “She used to be a model but feels she can now not model because she lost her self confidence and self esteem and she was left feeling everyone around her hates her.”

The court heard that Ms Smith had a history of depression and had self harmed before the attack last August.

Two months later, in October, she had taken an overdose.

It emerged that Morris had been conditionally discharged in October 2013 for assaulting her father.

The court was told a struggle broke out when her father tried to ground her when she stayed out overnight, Morris punched and kicked him before getting a knife out of a kitchen drawer, leaving him with a cut to his knee.

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Morris who has admitted throwing a corrosive liquid with intent to burn, maim, disfigure or disable, pleaded guilty at a previous hearing. Judge David Tremberg said he would sentence her on March 2. He said: “I want to make it clear to you that you should prepare yourself for the very real risk of an immediate custodial sentence when you come back.”