A man who splashed fuel on a woman before flicking a lighter that set her on fire has been sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in jail.
Brae Taylor Lewis’ ‘horrendous and disgraceful’ actions left the woman with burns so bad she spent days in an induced coma and nearly a month in hospital after the attack in May 2016.
The 22-year-old man pleaded guilty to one count of malicious act with intent in the Brisbane District Court.
Brae Taylor Lewis was sentenced to 11 years in jail in 2018 after he was convicted of maiming his then-girlfriend by setting her on fire on May 27, 2016
His girlfriend suffered deep dermal burns to 21 per cent of her body and has permanent scars across her arms, chest, abdomen, back and thighs following the attack
The court heard fuel splashed on the woman when Lewis threw a beer bottle containing the flammable liquid at her.
‘She put her hands up in front of herself and as that happened the defendant extended his left hand and flicked the lighter that he held in his left hand,’ crown prosecutor Elizabeth Kelso earlier told the court.
‘The fumes immediately in front of the complainant ignited and effectively the front of her body became involved in flames.’
The woman was left with permanent scarring to her arms, chest, abdomen, back and thighs.
His offending was ‘horrendous and disgraceful’, but a sentence needed to take into account his youthfulness, remorse and rehabilitation efforts while in custody, Brisbane District Court Judge Michael Burnett said on Thursday.
Lewis will have to serve at least half his nine-and-a-half years’ jail term before being eligible for parole.
The woman, who is now 22, told the court she still requires therapy for the ‘brutal attack’ and feels like she is ‘living a life sentence’ (burns left, boyfriend right)
With time already spent in custody since May 2016, he will be eligible for parole in six months.
The woman told the court her sleep is disturbed by recurring nightmares, she is ‘petrified’ of putting fuel in her car and the damage to her skin makes her sensitive to products like soaps, sanitisers and the sun.
She is also self-conscious of her scars and appearance.
‘I found myself crying all the time … and there were times I thought of giving up,’ she said.
‘I have been forced to learn how to cope with the permanent injuries and scarring that this brutal assault has left me with.
‘This is a life sentencing for me that I must endure and cope with every day.
‘No matter how much time passes this will always stay with me.’
Defence barrister Andrew Hoare said Lewis was exposed to violence and trauma in his childhood, and developed a drug habit from the age of 15.
Mr Hoare acknowledged the severe consequences for his client’s actions while also arguing for the sentence to be reduced (her burns are pictured)