Billy and Geoffrey Midmore jailed for brutal acid attack on Carla Whitlock

Billy and Geoffrey Midmore shocked the country with a brutal attack that left a Southampton mum blinded and disfigured for life.

Now the brothers have been jailed for a total of 24 years for throwing acid over Carla Whitlock.

The pair were sentenced at Southampton Crown Court nine months after they targeted the mum-of-six and threw drain cleaner in her face.

Billy Midmore, 23, laughed and smiled throughout the hearing as court heard how Carla’s life “would never be the same,” but brother Geoffrey, 27, appeared “remorseful” to the judge.

Both brothers have been sentenced for a joint charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Billy, who was found guilty by jury after a seven-day trial in April, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with five years on licence.

Geoffrey, who threw the acid but pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, has been sentenced to nine years behind bars.

The court heard how Carla was left screaming in pain after the brothers bought a corrosive drain cleaner called One Shot, decanted it into a small wine bottle and threw it in her face before going on the run from police.

The attack saw witnesses rush to Carla’s aid outside Turtle Bay in Guildhall Square, Southampton, on September 18 last year.

During Billy’s trial, many recalled the acid “melting” her face, neck, arms and clothing as she screamed.

The acid blinded Carla in her right eye and left her partially sighted in her left eye. Doctors fear it is unlikely the sight will improve.

She has also been severely scarred on her face, neck and arms and is waiting for an operation for her eyelid which she can no longer close.

As reported by the Daily Echo, Billy Midmore’s trial heard how the drug dealer came to Southampton in the summer last year to set up his business selling cocaine and heroin, making up to £3,000 a day.

Geoffrey sold drugs for his younger brother and Carla was a regular customer, which she admitted while giving evidence in the trial.

But the brothers turned on Carla when she arranged for two of her male friends to buy drugs from Geoffrey, only for them to rob him of around £2,000.

PICTURED: The drain cleaner used to attack Carla Whitlock

This triggered a series of events which left Carla “afraid to leave the house” as Billy sent her a text saying she was “dead” and Geoffrey sent a picture to a friend of the One Shot saying: “This is the one. Face melter.”

The brothers were captured on CCTV footage going to Homebase in Millbrook together asking for the drain cleaner, although Billy told the court he had no intention of using it as a weapon.

The court heard how father-of-one Geoffrey was considered a man of good character, with his only previous conviction being for travelling without buying a rail ticket.

Billy, on the other hand, was described by his defence counsel Mark Ruffell as a “complex character” with 26 previous convictions spanning from theft, battery and drug possession to attempted armed robbery and assaulting a prison officer.

Billy continued to laugh in the dock as his sentence was handed down by Judge Ralls QC and the court heard that he regularly laughed and smiled throughout the police investigation.

Mr Ruffell said: “He was in prison for more than four years from the age of 16 to 21 which could have affected his outlook and the people he met during that time.

"No one will ever know if had they not bumped into her, had they not been there at that moment in time, had she not crossed their path - this may never have happened.

"It was a chance meeting which they were fully prepared for."

Defending Geoffrey, Rob Pawson said: "Geoffrey accepts and has always accepted what he did.

"He is a caring family man who shares genuine empathy and bitter regret for the consequences to his victim.

"He never intended to blind another human being.”

Mr Pawson said Geoffrey was more of "a follower" and during their first meeting Geoffrey broke down and was weeping and uncontrollably sobbing before saying "I can't believe what I have done to a woman."

Judge Ralls said: "This was a cruel and calculated attack.

"Their behaviour is on a level of medieval barbarism beyond most people's comprehension.

"This was a sad event which took place in a public part of this city with people going about their lawful business.

Speaking after the hearing, Chief Inspector Debra Masson said: “Acid attacks in Hampshire are thankfully very rare.

"The level of injury caused by such an attack is life-changing, and I know that Carla still faces many challenges, alongside the permanent loss of sight in one of her eyes, due to this barbaric act.

“Although things will never be the same for Carla, we hope that the sentence handed to Geoffrey and Billy Midmore goes some way to giving her closure and allows her to feel that justice has been delivered.”

Judge Ralls QC also ordered that a separate charge for Billy Midmore of possession of a bladed article in a separate incident on August 6 last year lie on the file.