VIOLENT acid attacks leaving victims horrifically scarred are increasing more quickly than previously feared and have doubled over the past six years, it has been revealed.

Southampton mum-of-six Carla Whitlock was left blinded and disfigured for life when acid was thrown in her face in a brutal attack in the city centre.

Now shocking figures show that the number of people being targeted in attacks across the country is rising faster than previously thought.

At least 408 separate incidents where corrosive or noxious materials were used as a weapon in an alleged attack were recorded by police forces across the country last year.

Now the same forces have already recorded 340 attacks in the first six months of this year – already above 206 attacks recorded in 2010.

The research obtained by freedom of information by the Times show the incidents are growing faster than previously thought and are becoming more commonplace.

Requests to 43 forces in England and Wales and the Police Service in Northern Ireland, Police Scotland and British Transport Police exposed an increase in reported attacks.

The data showed that six times as many men (1,510) as women (239) were alleged to have carried out attacks with a corrosive material since 2010.

Womean make up 38 per cent of the victims and men 61 per cent.

One per cent of the victims’ gender was not known.

As previously reported Carla’s attackers Billy and Geoffrey Midmore were jailed for a total of 24 years after throwing drain cleaner in her face.

The pair were sentenced in Southampton Crown Court nine months after they targeted the mum-of-six outside Turtle Bay restaurant in the city’s Guildhall Square Both brothers were 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 pleased guilty at the first opportunity, has been sentenced to nine years behind bars.

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 the restaurant on September 18 last year in an attack which left her blinded in her right eye and left her partially sighted in her left eye. Doctors fear it is unlikely the sight will improve.

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.