A man who left his girlfriend with “horrific injuries” after pouring boiling water over her face claimed her burns resulted from tripping over a kettle cable.

Marius Mazurek was alleged to have deliberately scalded his victim at her home in Westgate-on-Sea.

Jurors heard a doctor who later asked who had inflicted the injuries was told by the 41-year-old Polish national "I did it", before adding "she was drunk".

But giving evidence at his trial, Mazurek, of Surrey Road, Cliftonville, said he had denied being responsible when asked.

He also told the jury that despite his then-partner's face being red and blistering, he had to "plead" with her to seek medical help because all she wanted to do was "carry on drinking".

Mazurek was found not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but was convicted of the less serious, alternative offence of causing grievous bodily harm.

A judge concluded the jury, in reaching its verdicts, must have considered Mazurek to have acted "recklessly" in that he deliberately poured the water over the victim but was "perhaps not quite so aware" of how hot the water was.

Prosecutor Eleanor Scott-Davies told Canterbury Crown Court the assault occurred on the evening of January 2 this year.

A neighbour heard "hysterical screaming" from a woman and, when he opened the door, saw Mazurek.

But when he asked if help was needed, the defendant was said to have replied: "She was drunk."

Not knowing who was being referred to, the neighbour returned to his room, only to hear more screaming and then seeing Mazurek for a second time in the communal area.

However, this time the court heard he did not say anything and just walked off down the stairs.

It was at this point the victim appeared - looking wet and her skin slightly red - and shouted: "Look what he did. He threw boiling water over me."

But after her neighbour gave advice on how to treat her injuries, she simply swore at him.

Once at hospital the next day, she was found to have suffered burns on her face, chest, abdomen and a lower limb, and had to be referred to a specialist unit at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead.

Asked by a plastic surgeon there how she had been injured, she was said to have become distressed and tearful before saying in Mazurek's presence that "he" had poured boiling water on her face the previous evening because he was "upset she was drunk".

It was alleged that having then been escorted to another room, Mazurek confirmed he was responsible and the reason why.

Police were alerted and, giving an account recorded on an officer's bodyworn camera, the victim reiterated that her partner had thrown the water over her but she said he had thought it was cold.

Mazurek was arrested and charged but his girlfriend played no part in the trial, having refused to co-operate with police and then left the country.

Evidence that was however used included the accounts of the neighbour and doctor, as well as photos of the horrific injuries.

Mazurek told police when interviewed that he would never intentionally cause his partner any harm.

Giving evidence at his trial, Mazurek, who had described his partner as an "aggressive alcoholic who started arguments", claimed they had been pushing each other when the kettle was knocked from a window sill, spilling its contents over her.

Speaking through an interpreter, he told the jury: "It (the row) didn't last long. [My partner] fell to the floor. One of us tripped on a cable extension lead and the kettle fell and landed on Iwona's face.

"I was next to her and I saw the kettle land on her and water covering her face and body."

Mazurek said he did not know that there was water in it and, when asked how his partner had reacted, he replied: "She started shouting and threw the kettle against the wall.

"She started shouting at me 'Look what you done! You threw boiling water on'.

"Her face was red. She was angry. I think it was at that moment when she got covered by water that she sobered up.

She looked really horrible and I had to explain to her it had changed. It wasn't just red, there were blisters on her face...

"She started shouting, screaming, so I left the room."

Mazurek, who often referred to the victim in court as "my woman", agreed he had seen his neighbour and told him that she was drunk.

He claimed his girlfriend had also left the flat to buy more alcohol.

"I asked and pleaded with her to go to A&E but she said she would rather stay and drink alcohol because as far as she was concerned there was nothing wrong with her. But I could see that her face was red," he added.

Mazurek said he helped her by putting ice in a towel for her face and, despite her reluctance, she went to the QEQM Hospital the following day.

"She looked really horrible and I had to explain to her it had changed. It wasn't just red, there were blisters on her face," Mazurek explained.

"I had been trying to persuade her and explain she had to go but she was adamant she didn't want to go, she wanted to carry on drinking and not go and see a doctor."

He agreed he had been "upset at her drinking every day" but maintained that he had not told the surgeon he was responsible for her burns.

"I would never do such a thing. I wouldn't do that to someone I love," he added.

When accused by Ms Scott-Davies of not calling for an ambulance because he had caused the injuries and "knew questions would be asked", Mazurek replied: "No, because the following day we went to hospital, went to see the doctor, and it was me who pleaded with her (to go)."

He added the reason he had left the flat - and his injured partner - was because she wanted to attack him.

Mazurek was cleared of the intent charge on Friday, July 12, but convicted of the lesser offence.

Passing sentence, Judge Simon James offered his view on how jurors had reached their verdicts.

But having been urged to suspend any prison term, he jailed Mazurek for 18 months, saying only immediate custody was appropriate for such a serious offence.

Although there was no victim personal statement provided to the court, Judge James said that the long-term impact to the victim was demonstrated by the "frankly horrific" images of her injuries.