Jivan Dean jailed for Carmarthenshire caustic soda attack

Dean came to a house on the community on the day of the attack with a bag and was acting “out of character” before going into the kitchen to stir water “and a white powder” on the hob, which he claimed was ketamine.

Dean then walked into the room where Mr Riley was sitting and threw the hot liquid at him from about 5ft away while saying “stay away from my girlfriend”.

Mr Riley “immediately felt he was burning”, Ms Hughes added, and he went outside screaming: “Help, help, it burns. I cannot see.”

The sodium hydroxide burned the chair and items around it were bubbling, the court heard.

Mr Riley was helped by others who took him to hospital where he was treated for serious chemical burns.

He can now see only blurred shapes and requires help with everyday tasks, the court heard, and doctors are unable to say when or if his eyesight will return.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Riley said his “life is in limbo” and he now has to use eye drops every three hours.

“I have nightmares most nights regarding the incident – they keep me awake.