An investigation has been launched to determine how a man being sentenced for fraud was able to douse himself with acid in court.
Marc Marshall, 54, is in a critical condition after appearing at Inner London Crown Court where he poured a noxious substance over his face on Monday.
The Courts Service has said it is “deeply concerned” as to how a defendant could get into a court building with acid.
According to the BBC, Marshall walked into court carrying a metal water bottle and CCTV shows him appearing to sip from it as he passed through security.
As he was sentenced to two years and four months in prison for a series of cheque fraud offences involving £135,000, Marshall screamed.
A witness told the BBC his face turned white and “it looked like he had glue on his skin”.
The Met Police said in a statement: “Police were called to Court 10, Inner London Crown Court, at 12.01pm on Monday, 29 April, following reports of a serious assault.
“Officers, London Ambulance Service and London Air Ambulance attended and a male aged in his fifties was found to have doused himself with a noxious substance.
“He has been taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries. His condition is critical.
“A female dock officer was also injured by some of the substance. Her injuries are not believed to be serious and she did not require hospital treatment.”