A convicted rapist who threw boiling water over another inmate's genitals in a prison attack has been handed an additional nine months in jail. Ethan Rowley, now 20, carried out the seemingly motiveless assault while on remand at HMP Nottingham awaiting trial for serious sexual offences.
Rowley, who was sentenced to 21 years last summer for raping two women in Derbyshire, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court via video link from HMP Swinfen Hall. He pleaded guilty to throwing a destructive substance with intent to burn, maim, disfigure, disable and do grievous bodily harm.
The attack took place on November 8, 2024, in the prison shower block. Prosecutor Samantha Warner said Rowley left his cubicle, dried and dressed, then returned holding a blue mop bucket. He threw the scalding water over the victim, who suffered burns to his chest, thighs, right arm and blistering to his genitalia. The victim was taken to Queen's Medical Centre for treatment.
Judge Michael Auty KC noted the victim did not provide a statement or comply with prison authorities, making it unclear what the long-term effects were. He described the attack as causing skin to blister and hang off the victim's legs and groin area, with damage to his genitalia.
Mitigating, Gregor Purcell acknowledged the attack was deliberate and painful, but noted Rowley is a young man facing an extremely long sentence. Rowley has two previous convictions for violence.
