Glass attack yob avoids jail

Court told attacker had ‘turned his life around’
A DRUNKEN teenager who hit another youth in the face with a glass outside a Chadderton pub was told he could have easily disfigured him for life.

Charles Wright-Bowness (19) lashed out with the pint pot, slashing his victim Mathew Hilton, after a row had broken out inside the Harlequin on May 24.

Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told that when he was taken to hospital, an X-ray showed that a shard of glass had lodged in his lip.

It was thought the victim would need specialist plastic surgery to repair the damage caused by the attack, but it eventually proved to be unnecessary.

Wright-Bowness, who pleaded guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, was said to have been so drunk at the time that he could later recall absolutely nothing of what happened.

He escaped being sent immediately to prison only because the court was told no serious injury had been caused, and he appeared to have turned his life around since the attack.

Sentencing him, Judge Lesley Nield told him: “This was a serious offence involving a glass effectively used as a weapon.

“A glass used in an attack leaves the victim a hostage to fate in respect of what the consequences might be.

“There could have been serious damage caused, including blindness or serious disfiguration.”

Anthony Stanway prosecuting, said the attack came after a fight involving Wright-Bowness broke out inside the pub shortly beforehand.

Mr Hilton had left the premises to avoid getting caught up in the incident, when the 19-year-old also came outside.

Mr Hilton advised him to calm down, saying he had come out for a few drinks and a laugh with his friends, not to get involved in trouble.

Wright-Bowness asked him: “What’s it to do with you?” Then he told him: “I’m going to put this glass across your head” and slashed him across the side of his face.

Paul Dochery, defending, said it had to be recognised that it was pure good fortune that more serious injuries were not suffered, or that more serious charges had not been brought.

He said his client had shown genuine remorse for what he had done, though he had no recollection of it.

He told the court the teenager had begun to turn his life around, had settled down with a supportive girl friend and her family, and hoped now to lead an honest and industrious life.

Wright-Bowness of Vorlich Drive, Chadderton, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, but told the term will be suspended for two tears.

He will be subject to supervision for 12 months, subject to a nightly electronic curfew for six weeks, and have to undertake a programme for angry drinkers.

He will also have to pay £500 compensation to his victim.

Judge Nield said: “Your victim will bear the physical and psychological harm he suffered, for some time.

“It has to be marked by a custodial sentence.”