Mistress, 24, who had ‘boiling water poured over her’ tells how lover’s estranged wife ‘hunted her down while full of rage’
Monika Fourie demanded her South African husband leave the room so she could interrogate his young lover Hannah Stokes before attacking her with searing hot water, Plymouth Crown Court heard
A YOUNG mistress who was doused in boiling water by the scorned wife of her Royal Marine lover was "hunted down" and attacked, a court heard today.
Hannah Stokes, 24, said she "did not deserve" the pain she suffered from severe burns after she was allegedly assaulted by 34-year-old Monika Fourie.
Mrs Fourie is accused of lashing out with the searing hot water after pretending to make a cup of tea.
She walked in on her husband Wouter with his lover as they sat on the sofa in her marital home in Plymouth, Devon.
Giving evidence at Plymouth Crown Court, Ms Stokes fought back tears as she said she would have to live with the consequences of her affair for the rest of her life.
She said: "I saw someone full of rage. She was hunting me down. I know we both did something wrong in this situation and the reality is that I had an affair.
"But now I am out of the shock, I know I did not deserve what I got.
"I would have to be sick to exaggerate the hell I have been through.
"I have to live with this every day for the rest of my life with what she did. She had snapped as I was in her house."
Ms Stokes, 24, had started an affair with Mrs Fourie's husband just weeks before the alleged assault in October 2016.
She suffered "terrible burns" from the hot water — which was boiled when "eerily calm" Mrs Fourie pretended to make a cup of tea, Plymouth Crown Court heard.
Wouter Fourie was upstairs with his daughter after being told to leave the room so his wife could interrogate his mistress, according to prosecutors.
Also giving his testimony today, South African Mr Fourie said his marriage had hit the rocks after he suffered injuries from being blown up twice by IEDs in Afghanistan in 2013.
He said he met Ms Stokes four months before the alleged attack and his travelling with work put further stress on his relationship with his Polish-born wife.
Describing the alleged attack, he told jurors: "As I went upstairs I heard Hannah screaming. She was shouting 'help, help, please help.'
"I ran downstairs and I could see Monika holding Hannah by her hair and bending down.
"I saw Monika grab a kettle and she had rage in her face like she wanted to hurt Hannah very badly.
"She poured hot boiling water on Hannah's head. I saw the steam. Hannah was in agony."
Fourie, 34, has denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent in October 2015 — but has admitted the alternative charge of causing GBH without intent.
Jurors were told Ms Stokes suffered burns to her chest, neck and back and had undergone surgery for a perforated eardrum.
Mrs Fourie had been going through marital problems with her husband before the affair began in September 2015.
Mr Fourie had come clean about his new relationship and believed his marriage to Monika was over.
He said: "I had decided to end my marriage as I was not happy anymore.
"I told her 'I am leaving you' and she started blaming herself. She said she was still going to fight for me but I told her I had an affair."
After allegedly scalding her victim, she then chased her out of the house while pulling her hair, jurors heard.
Mrs Fourie, who suffers from anxiety and depression, has argued she has no memory of the events of that night, the prosecution said.
Her trial continues.
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