Horror as drinker smashes glass in pub doorman's face
Victim 'could have lost his sight,' court hears
A DRINKER took a pint glass and smashed it into a pub doorman’s face.
The horrific incident happened outside The Hatchet Inn in Market Place, Newbury.
On Thursday, November 10, Reading magistrates heard how the victim, Daniel Holewell, could have lost his sight.
In the dock was 30-year-old married father of one Andrew Edward Bennett.
Ben May, prosecuting, said Mr Bennett had been participating in a family celebration at the pub on a Saturday when, at 7.45pm, he intervened in an incident involving one of his party and the doorman.
He said: “One of the party, a Mr Carr, was asked to leave and the defendant questioned this.
“There followed a verbal altercation over whether drinks could continue to be served to the party and Mr Bennett became aggressive.”
Mr May went on: “He pushed his body into the bouncer’s and, as Mr Holewell called for assistance, he swung his arm containing the glass into the bouncer’s face.”
The glass shattered, causing lacerations to Mr Holewell’s face, the court heard.
Mr Holewell lost several days work as a result of his injuries.
Mr Bennett was arrested but replied “no comment” to all questions asked of him, magistrates were told.
Mr Bennett, of Cedar Drive, Kingsclere, admitted committing assault by beating on July 16.
He has no prior convictions.
Alun Morgan, defending, called a probation officer to give evidence that his client was initially told he would be charged with the far more serious charge of wounding with intent – which can only be heard before a crown court judge and which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
He added: “Therefore the possibility of a custodial sentence has been hanging over him all this time.
“Luckily the victim suffered only a cut to his nose.
“My client is absolutely horrified by what he has done.
“He expresses genuine remorse and is fully aware of what could have happened – the victim could have lost his sight or suffered other life-changing injuries.”
Mr Morgan explained that Mr Bennett – usually a “light, social drinker” – had been to Newbury Racecourse and had been consuming alcohol for the last eight hours when the offence occurred.
He said: “He had no recollection of what he had done.”
The probation officer told the court: “I suggest, because of his genuine remorse, some form of restorative justice in which he could possibly meet with his victim, who he acknowledges was only doing his job.”
After retiring to confer, magistrates made Mr Bennett subject to a 12-month community order with 60 hours unpaid work requirement and a four-day restorative justice activity requirement.
In addition, he was ordered to pay Mr Holewell £200 compensation, £85 costs plus a statutory victim services surcharge of £85.