A MAN who doused a pregnant women in acid three years ago is finally behind bars.

Majeeda Akhter's face was eaten away by the acid, and her hands and arms were badly damaged in the attack in Bangladesh, which was provoked by an argument over land.

She later gave birth to a son, but was unable to look after him properly because of her appalling injuries.

Jarveed Majid, owner of the Tall Trees Hotel and Country Club, at Yarm, Teesside, became aware of Majeeda's plight in 1999.

He arranged for her to visit the UK, and paid for complex plastic surgery to restore her face and vision, so that she could at last see the face of her little boy, Emon.

Mr Majid's friend, Middlesbrough plastic surgeon Charles Viva, who has a world-wide reputation for helping deformed victims of war and famine from Third World countries, worked with an ophthalmic surgeon from London's Moorfields Hospital to treat Majeeda's injuries.

She then stayed to recuperate before returning to her native country.

Throughout the treatment, Majeeda's attackers remained free.

But extensive work and investigations by the Acid Survivors Foundation, in Bangladesh, meant that the man who caused her horrific injuries was brought to trial last year.

Special legislation, introduced in 1995, stipulated a life sentence or the death penalty for anyone causing harm to a woman by "erosive, poisonous or corrosive substances".

Majeeda's attacker was sentenced to life in jail, but he absconded before he could be imprisoned. Just days ago, the man was handed into the authorities by the police and is now behind bars.

Dr John Morrison of the Acid Foundations Survivors, in Dhaka, said: "Majeeda is very well and visit us regularly in Dhaka. She is happy and continues to enjoy the support of her family. I have met hundreds of acid survivors since becoming involved in this work, but Majeeda is my most memorable case."