“I was caring for others when he destroyed me.”

Those were the words of a Paddock Wood mental heath nurse who was scarred for life when an armed robber threw boiling water in her face.

Claire Stott, of Church Road, was holding a therapy session with a patient when Vasile David calmly walked to the kitchen, filled up a tumbler and doused her with 98°C liquid.

The mother-of-two, 38, described feeling searing pain and hearing colleagues’ screams as she dropped off her chair, while David stood three feet away watching.

In an unusual outcome, David faces immediate deportation following a move by magistrates to respect the victim’s wishes.

The 26-year-old Romanian smiled and waved at family members as he appeared in the dock at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court alongside five police and immigration officers.

He admitted causing actual bodily harm.

His actions last August left Miss Stott with severe burns to 50% of her face and left arm.

She now has to wear glasses and has been left emotionally scarred and in financial difficulties after having to cut her hours.

“I really didn’t think something like this would affect me, but it has changed my life,” she said, adding: “I’m recovering but it’s going to take time.”

Her victim impact statement was read to the court in which she wrote: “I want to see him deported and never allowed to return to this country.”

Miss Stott said: “It’s important people know what nurses have to deal with. We go above and beyond on a daily basis. Apart from caring for patients and making them better we are keeping the public safe.

“I felt I had to go to court as part of the healing process. I have struggled to sleep and do my job for the past few weeks but I feel good about myself now.

“I had to explain what happened to my six-year-old in terms she could understand. After the court case she told my older daughter ‘the man who hurt mummy has been sent away and he’s not coming back.’

She added: “I wanted to see he had got better and was looking healthier and it was nice to see he was and can now move on with his life.”

David was jailed for six years in 2012 after repeatedly kicking a 74-year-old shopkeeper and stealing more than £11,000 from a London Post Office while armed with an imitation firearm.

While on bail he fled to Romania but was arrested on a European warrant.

Magistrates were told he was being released having spent the last 10 months in Broadmoor and in an unusual step David’s solicitor asked for a suspended jail term so he could be immediately deported.

Jacqueline Taylor, chairman of the bench, told David there was no doubt his actions were so serious he should be sent to the crown court but due to the circumstances imposed a 180-day sentence, suspended for two years.

She said: “Deportation is due but more importantly your victim has requested it.”