IT WAS a crime that shocked the whole country. 

Billy Midmore is one half of an evil duo who unleashed a vicious attack on a Southampton mum. 

Along with his brother, the 23-year-old was part of a plot to throw acid over Carla Whitlock in a targeted attack which left witnesses horrified. 

Now prison chiefs are taking tough action against the self-confessed drug dealer after an “extremely insensitive” picture was uploaded to his Facebook page. 

With a wide grin Midmore stares into the camera, holding up a picture on a smartphone of a woman on the ground clutching her face – blatantly amused by what he has seen and showing no signs of remorse. 

It’s not known who the woman in the image is but Midmore is now facing extra prison time, a police investigation, a segregation unit and being stripped of all his prison privileges. 

The severe punishment has been launched by prison chiefs after the Daily Echo revealed that an image had been uploaded to Midmore’s Facebook profile – just days before he is set to be sentenced for the attack. 

It comes just two months after Midmore was found guilty of taking part in the acid attack in Guildhall Square that left mum-of-six Carla disfigured and blind in one eye. 

Prison Service chiefs have said the picture upload is “completely unacceptable” behaviour and confirmed Midmore’s cell has been searched and they have launched an internal investigation. 

The upload has been branded “insensitive” by city chiefs and calls are now being made for the Ministry of Justice to consider shutting down criminals’ social media sites to avoid this happening in the future. 

In April Midmore appeared at Southampton Crown Court for a seven-day trial where he was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. 

The court heard how Carla was attacked outside of Turtle Bay in Guildhall Square, Southampton, by Billy and his brother Geoffrey, 26 – who admitted throwing the acid. 

The brothers, both of Sheephouse Way, have been remanded in custody until they appear for sentencing. 

Yesterday it appeared Billy’s Facebook page was taken down but before then it had still been active, with pictures uploaded to the account and profile pictures changed.

It is not known who has been running the account and a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said prisoners were not allowed access to social media while in custody. 

The last profile picture on the account, under the name Billal Midmore, appeared to show Billy sitting in a restaurant holding up the photo of a woman with Billy sporting a menacing grin and was uploaded on June 15. 
A spokesman for the Prison Service said their thoughts were with Ms Whitlock after the image was uploaded. 

As reported by the Daily Echo, Midmore and his brother Geoffrey bought One Shot drain cleaner from Homebase in Millbrook and threw it in the face of the 37-year-old mum of six on September 18 last year. 

However it is not believed the picture posted on Facebook shows Carla as during Billy’s trial the court heard how she was wearing black jeans which became bleached and burnt by the acid. 

The woman in this picture appears to be wearing denim shorts and a blank vest top and it is not known where or when it was taken. 

During Midmore’s trial, jurors heard how the attack was a “debt to be paid” and organised by Billy and Geoffrey after Ms Whitlock called asking for £100 of drugs and at least two men met Geoffrey and stole £2,000 worth of drug money. 

The court was also shown CCTV footage of Billy Midmore buying drain cleaner. 

Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith said the picture upload was a “highly insensitive” thing to do. 

He said: “If it’s him that has found a way to upload the images then it’s a very insensitive thing to do and shows no sign of someone convicted of a heinous crime being remorseful. If it’s someone else uploading on to his account then it’s again very insensitive to the victim and to Billy Midmore ahead of his sentencing. 

“I think this could be a good example to show the Ministry of Justice that perhaps they should look into shutting down social media sites for people who are about to be sentenced, I would say that’s a very reasonable expectation.” 

Hampshire police said the picture upload was an issue for the Ministry of Justice. 

The brothers are due to be sentenced on Tuesday.