Man severs artery in restaurant window attack
Botan's incident almost proved fatal, court hears
A MAN who punched a town centre restaurant window nearly died from blood loss, Newbury magistrates heard.
Bartholomew Street was closed to rush hour traffic, causing chaos for motorists on their way home from work.
But Shane Mark Prout’s moment of madness at Botan Restaurant almost cost him his life. the court was told on Thursday.
Helen Waite, prosecuting, said the drunken 38-year-old had ordered a meal but became aggressive, shouting. swearing and throwing his arms around.
She added: “He was given his food and asked to leave.
“Once outside, he punched the window, causing it to smash.”
As Mr Prout’s first shattered the glass into shards, his blood vessels were severed, including a main artery, magistrates were told.
Ms Waite said that, as his life began to ebb away, he told officers he had consumed three- quarters of a bottle of vodka, some lagers and a heroin substitute drug.
Mr Prout admitted causing criminal damage worth £50 to Botan’s on August 7 last year.
At the time, this newspaper reported how Mr Prout was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, and the road was closed to rush hour traffic, causing delays to motorists on their way home.
Stephen Collins, defending, said his client “used to be a regular attender in this court” and formerly had a £50 per day heroin habit.
He added: “He cut several arteries, including a main artery, and nerves in his hand and wrist. He was in hospital for two weeks and there were fears for his life due to the amount of blood he had lost. He still can’t work yet and is in receipt of sickness benefit.”
Mr Collins said his client, who has a teenage daughter in Newbury, was currently living with his father in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, and no longer had issues with alcohol or drugs.
Magistrates imposed a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered Mr Prout to pay £85 costs, a statutory surcharge of £15 plus £50 compensation to the owners of Botan’s.