More likely the wind, cold wind, that has burned the leaves and also dried out the soil. It won't leaf up again this year but may next. Put the pot somewhere sheltered and keep it watered, oh, and cross your fingers - it often helps.

You've got the clay in an outer pot, if that doesn't have drainage holes you are going to have a challenge to keep well enough watered and not have the pot sitting in stagnant water...

Honestly, I think you are chasing the wind. I would replace it with a nice new one you can enjoy this year then follow above advice.

Examine the bark near the base of the tree's trunk - I can see what looks like a crack in it - if it is a crack, there may have been some damage (environmental or otherwise) which has caused this. If the crack is innocuous, scrape back a little of the bark near the base (not where the crack is) to see if its alive or dead - it'll be greenish underneath if its alive, brown and dry if its not. If its still alive, stand it somewhere sheltered from wind and out of hot sun between the hours of 11 and 3 pm, keep it watered as necessary and see what happens.

Thanks everyone, will follow the advice and hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
I was thinking of giving it a feed with some spent coffee granules and putting a mulch of bark chippings on the top would this be a good idea?
MG,the acer is in a plastic pot with drainage holes and raised up a bit in the inside of the terracotta pot, which also has a drainage hole is this good or bad?

Should be okay Mehasnoclue so long as there is clear drainage. Wouldn't recommend coffee ground for an Acer, mulching with bark chippings might help but does need more regular watering.

Thanks MG, I didn't use the coffee granules in the end but I did put the chippings around as mulch, I had been watering the Acer quite regularly but I have given a good watering and moved it to a more sheltered position.

God luck!