Charlotte Foster had boiling hot water thrown over by Ben Queen, inset, (Picture: SWNS)
A man threw boiling water over his sister-in-law causing her freckles to ‘melt off’ – in a row over a pet rat.
Charlotte Foster, 29, was left with first and second degree burns after her fiancée’s brother, Ben Queen, 28, attacked her in August 2021.
The pair were arguing about how to care for the poorly rodent before the mum-of-one was doused in the boiling hot water.
She had confided in Ben – a fellow rat owner – over a text about a trip to the vets she’d taken with her own pet rat, Ruby.
But instead of sympathising, Ben became angry Ruby had been given allergy medication for breathing problems, Carlisle Crown Court heard.
A text message argument ensued and, upset by the rude exchange, Charlotte went to his house later that day to ask for an apology.
But their face-to-face chat turned violent when Ben shouted ‘take this you b*tch’ before pouring freshly boiled water from a kettle over the full-time carer.
Charlotte, from Carlisle, said: ‘It all happened so fast. I felt this scorching sensation on my head, ears and neck with Ben towering the kettle over me.
The water left painful blisters over Charlotte’s body (Picture: Charlotte Foster / SWNS)
Charlotte said she watched her freckles ‘melt off’ in front of her (Picture: Charlotte Foster / SWNS)
‘He continue to pour the water for a minute as I screamed for him to stop – I’ve never felt pain like that.
‘The physical damage was horrendous and the pain left me wanting to end it all.
‘I watched as my freckles died and literally fell off my face as my skin melted away.’
Charlotte managed to flee the scene and was rushed to Cumberland Infirmary Hospital, Cumbria.
She received treatment for severe burns to her head, neck and shoulders.
The horrific attack also left her unable to see from her left eye for 38 hours, as well as leaving ‘painful’ blistering on her chest, ear and left side of her face.
More freckles also started to turn black and fall off (Picture: Charlotte Foster / SWNS)
The argument started over the treatment for Ruby the rat (Picture: Charlotte Foster / SWNS)
Her freckles which she had just ‘learnt to embrace’ also fell off and died.
‘I was horrified when I looked in the mirror as my freckles had started changing colour. Within the first month, they turned from brown to black and fall off,’ she said.
‘My partner, Sam would be there – having to clean them up as I just cried.’
Ben was arrested later that day and released on bail.
He plead guilty to causing grievous bodily harm on January 10, 2023, at Carlisle Crown Court.
He was handed a 21-month jail sentence as well as a five-year restraining order on February 9, 2023.
Her hair would stick to the blisters on her ears (Picture: Charlotte Foster / SWNS)
Despite Ben’s jail sentence, Charlotte says that it will ‘never be enough for the mental and physical turmoil’ she’s been left with.
She said: ‘My skin around my face, neck, chest, shoulder and ears are still damaged now and it’s a constant reminder of this sick individual.
‘My hair would stick to my ear that had blistered all over and my face had puffed up completely.
‘My son would say I still looked beautiful but I could see that he was scared of my injuries.
‘I’m still not 100 per cent, but Ben being jailed is a start.’
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The pair were arguing about how to care for the poorly rodent before the mum-of-one was doused in the boiling hot water.