Jealous boyfriend who blinded man with corrosive substance in mistaken revenge attack in peace and love commune is jailed for 15 years
A jealous boyfriend who blinded a man by throwing sodium hydroxide in his face at Britains oldest off-grid community has been jailed for 15 years.
A jealous boyfriend who blinded a man by throwing sodium hydroxide in his face at Britains oldest off-grid community has been jailed for 15 years.
Jivan Dean, 24, hurled the corrosive substance into the eyes of 20-year-old Raven Riley at the peace and love community known as Tipi Valley in west Wales on August 14.
Dean was seen heating up a liquid in a pan on a hob before attacking Mr Riley who he wrongly believed had been in contact with his girlfriend.
The assault left him blinded in both eyes and with burns to his head, face, neck and chest, Swansea Crown Court was told.
As Dean threw the boiling hot liquid from just four feet away he shouted: Stay away from my girlfriend.
Mr Riley had only met his girlfriend once and Dean was there at the time, the court heard.
Jivan Dean (pictured) hurled the corrosive substance into the eyes of 20-year-old Raven Riley at the peace and love community known as Tipi Valley on August 14
Police were called to the rare crime at the rural community of Tipi Valley in Llandeilo, West Wales, a 100-tent community set up in the 1970s
A manhunt was launched before Dean was arrested 48 hours later and later charged over the attack - and he has now admitted two charges
Mr Riley ran to find a cold water tap screaming in pain and shouting: Help, help, it burns I cant see.
The leather chair Mr Riley was sitting on and items in the room were also bubbling from the strong chemical solution.
Judge Geraint Walters said Dean acted out of revenge, describing it as a deliberate act to maim and permanently destroy a mans life.
Swansea Crown Court was shown horrific photographs of Mr Riley whose eyes were bleached white by the liquid and have turned opaque.
Mr Riley was visiting friends at Tipi Valley, near Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire on August 14 when he was attacked by Dean who he hardly knew.
The Tipi Valley is an off-grid eco-community founded in 1976 near the village of Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire.
The community is made up of collection of 100-Native American-style teepee tents and eco-lodges in a Welsh valley set up in the 1970s.
Prosecutor Carina Hughes said: Dean arrived and had a bag with him. They exchanged pleasantries, there were no issues or problems between them.
But Dean had suspicions that his girlfriend had been having some sort of contact with Mr Riley. But he had only met her once when the defendant was there.
There was an atmosphere, Dean was making odd facial expressions, laughing to himself and speaking under his breath.
The community is made up of Native American-style teepee tents and eco-lodges in a Welsh valley
A view of Tipi Valley in West Wales where the attack occurred on August 14
Dean caused damage to victim Raven Rileys eyes during the eco-village sodium hyrdroxide attack and the court heard medical reports are being prepared
He was seen putting a white substance into a pan with hot water. When asked he said it was ketamine.
The defendant walked towards Mr Riley and, from four to five feet away, threw the hot contents towards Mr Riley. As he threw it he stated: Stay away from my girlfriend. Mr Riley was taken to the West Wales General Hospital unable to see and in extreme pain.
A nationwide manhunt was launched for Dean who was arrested two days later in the Llanelli area. Tests carried out on his clothes showed traces of Sodium Hydroxide.
In a victim impact statement Mr Riley said: He has ruined my life. The nightmares do not stop and are affecting my mental health.
Two months from the incident my life is in limbo. My independence has been taken away in an horrific way.
I cant read and can only see blurred shapes. I need assistance to do simple things and rely on others.
I have to have three sets of eyedrops every three hours so that I can blink.
I used to have long curly hair but my hair will never grow back. I will never look the same again.
Mr Riley, who spent his 21st birthday in hospital, said Deans reckless actions had turned his life upside down.
Dean, of no fixed address, admitted grievous bodily harm with intent and causing a dangerous or noxious substance to be received with the aim to burn, maim, or disfigure, disable or do grievous bodily harm.
He was sentenced to 19 years imprisonment with the last four years to be served on licence.
