Arthur Collins to spend £50,000 on top lawyer in bid to quash 20-year acid attack sentence
THE jailed ex of reality TV star Ferne McCann is to spend £50,000 on a top lawyer to appeal against his 20-year acid attack jail sentence.
Arthur Collins, 25, reckons he was dealt with too harshly when convicted of GBH and ABH towards 14 people after flinging acid in a nightclub row.
The former scaffolder, who has a daughter with ex-Towie star Ferne, has now secured the services of a top barrister.
Michael Wolkind QC has appeared in more than 240 murder cases.
He also represented farmer Tony Martin in his successful appeal against a murder conviction for shooting dead a teenager who broke into his home.
Mr Wolkind visited Collins at Full Sutton Prison in York on Friday.
A pal told The Sun on Sunday: “He was a target because of who his ex is and because of the horrific nature of his crime.
“He wasn’t attacked but feared he might be one day. He hopes this appeal will cut his sentence.”
Collins, of Broxbourne, Herts, was jailed in December after his attack at the Mangle club in East London in April.
Twenty-two people were injured, with 16 suffering chemical burns. Collins later got eight months added to his jail term for smuggling in a phone.
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He moved jail to Full Sutton after moaning about life at Belmarsh.
Ferne, 27, gave birth to baby Sunday in November.
She visited Collins two weeks after he was jailed to tell him: “You will never see us again.”