Scorned wife Monika Fourie jailed for five years for pouring boiling water over husband's mistress after walking in on them

Jailed: Monika Fourie
PA
Hatty Collier1 November 2017
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A scorned wife who poured boiling water over her estranged husband's mistress has been jailed for five years.

Monika Fourie, 34, threw hot water from a cup and then a kettle onto Hannah Stokes in 2015, causing burns to her head, neck and chest.

Polish-born Fourie was convicted by a jury of causing grievous bodily harm with intent following a trial at Plymouth Crown Court last month.

She attacked Miss Stokes after walking in on her with her unfaithful Royal Marine husband at the matrimonial home.

Fourie broke down in tears when she was led away in handcuffs from the dock to begin her sentence on Wednesday.

Family and friends, including her mother and brother, who were sat in the public gallery were also crying as she was led away.

Fourie arrives at Plymouth Crown court
PA

The court heard Miss Stokes had begun an affair with Fourie's now ex-husband, South African-born Royal Marine Wouter Fourie, in the summer of 2015.

Days before the attack Mr Fourie had confessed to the extra-marital relationship and the defendant had left their home in Plymouth to stay with a friend, but unexpectedly returned on the night of October 24.

Miss Stokes had been invited round by Mr Fourie to watch South Africa play in the Rugby World Cup on television and was sitting on the sofa when the defendant returned.

Fourie said she was going to make a cup of tea but instead poured water from a cup over Miss Stokes.

She then returned to the kitchen, picked up the kettle and went back to the lounge, where Miss Stokes was screaming and grabbed her by the hair and tipped the remaining contents of the kettle over her.

Miss Stokes was treated for second degree partial thickness burns down to her navel and had surgery for a perforated eardrum.

The victim, who has since split from Mr Fourie, told the court the defendant was "full of rage" when she attacked her.

Fourie claimed she had no memory of the attack.

Passing sentence, Judge Paul Darlow said: "It was a repeated assault on the same victim in two parts, quite separate.

"The throwing of boiling water from a cup you were holding, and then returning and picking up the kettle and throwing that over Hannah Stokes."

The judge said that he did not believe Fourie had carried out a premeditated attack on Miss Stokes.

"It involved the use of a weapon and involved, in my judgment, the intention of causing a more serious injury than was inflicted," he said.

"The throwing of boiling water out of a cup was not a spontaneous act and it followed the boiling of a kettle and the absence of any intention to make a cup of tea.

"What followed added to excruciating pain she had already suffered. She was cornered and begging you to stop.

"You were pulling her hair up, trying to expose her face and you poured the kettle of boiling water over her.

"That's what I mean when I say your intention was to cause more serious injuries than you did."

Mr Fourie said his now ex-wife had "just wanted to hurt Hannah" while the defendant said she had no memory of the attack.

After the incident Fourie had sent a text messages to a relative in Poland which was translated as "revenge is sweet" and "the b**** will pay more".

The court heard that prosecution and defence psychiatrists had agreed that Fourie, of Olympic Way, Glenholt, Plymouth, Devon would have been suffering from "adjustment disorder" as she struggled to come to terms with the end of her marriage.

But the experts had differing views on whether the defendant had the capacity to form the intention to cause serious harm.

The court heard that Miss Stokes faces losing the hearing in her right ear as a consequence of the attack and faced the prospect of further surgery - with likely limited success - or wearing a hearing aid.

She also has to wear an ear plug when she showers to prevent water getting in her ear, and could face difficulties flying due to cabin pressure.

"The last two years have been the worst two years of my life and it feels like it has been on pause," she said in a victim impact statement.

"My parents have had to watch me go through two years of emotions and seen me at my lowest. With the verdict I feel I can put a stop to this chapter of my life. I feel I can move on."

Miss Stokes has also been turned down by the NHS for cosmetic surgery to treat her scarring and faces finding £10,000 to fund private treatment.

The court heard the military had given assurances that Mr Fourie would not be deployed for 12 months in order to care for their eight-year-old daughter.

She found out her mother would be going to jail from another child in the school playground, the court heard.

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