A jealous mum who threw boiling water over a love rival has been jailed for five years.

Edith Wiredu, 21, left her friend Terena Umoetuk with burns to a quarter of her body after the calculated attack in student digs in Parham Close, Canterbury.

She had accused Miss Umoetuk – a graphic design student at Canterbury Christ Church University – of sleeping with her boyfriend.

The 20-year-old still has scars on her chest and neck.

But a probation report on church-going Wiredu claimed she had shown no remorse for the attack in November last year.

Canterbury Crown Court heard she had confronted her friend about allegations she had been cheating with her boyfriend.

She then walked into the kitchen area, picked up a bowl of boiling water and threw it over her.

Judge Recorder Edward Connell told her: "This was a wicked and nasty offence and you should count it very lucky the injuries weren't more serious.

"This was a wholly deliberate act committed in anger and designed to injure your victim. This is a particularly tragic case because you have made remarkable progress in your education. But it is regrettable that you have not shown any remorse towards your victim."

Miss Umoetuk told how she and fellow students had met and had been planning to attend a meeting of the university's Afro-Caribbean Society.

Instead, Wiredu confronted her friend about having sex with her boyfriend Tinashe.

"this was a wicked and nasty offence and you should count it very lucky the injuries weren’t more serious…” – judge recorder edward connell

Ms Umoetuk told the jury: "I said: 'No'. I was shocked and confused. She asked me again and I denied it again. She then started getting angry and said that I had to start telling her the truth because he had told her. But I denied it again.

"She then left and went into the living room. I followed her and as I walked in, Edith appeared with a bowl of hot liquid and threw it over me. It went over my face and chest."

She then claimed that as she fell to the floor, Wiredu grabbed her hair and tried to stamp on her head.

Wiredu, who was studying tourism, and has a three-year-old child, denied inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent but was convicted unanimously by a jury.

Philip Rowley, defending, said: "Clearly Miss Wiredu did not articulate correctly her feelings to the probation officer and she was surprised to read that she viewed herself as a victim, too.

"She wants it said that she does not view herself in that role and accepts the victim suffered deeply unpleasant injuries which will last a long time. She accepts her responsibility."