Jail for glass attack

A 24-year-old Telscombe Cliffs man was sentenced to 18 months in jail for hitting a man in the face with a pint glass at a nightclub.

Allan Ashdown, of Central Avenue, attacked Christopher Eager in a brawl in October last year after seeing him talking to his ex-girlfriend.

John Harwood-Stevenson, prosecuting, told Lewes Crown Court this week: 'The victim, Mr Eager, had been drinking with a group of people including Victoria Bingham, who was the defendant s ex girlfriend.

'They left and went to a nightclub. There came a moment when Mr Eager and his girlfriend were sitting peacefully and were approached by Victoria Bingham.

'She said Ashdown was there and that she used to go out with him but there were problems after they broke up.

'The victim said to her, "What s it got to do with me, sort it out between yourselves". Then he noticed Ashdown was standing right beside him and he was aware he was making a move toward him.

'He was not aware of being hit but noticed people move towards the defendant. He told him to calm down and the defendant was taken outside. Then the victim noticed he was bleeding.

The court heard Mr Eager had a cut by his left eye which needed nine stitches, and other cuts around his eyes and on his head.

Matthew Sherratt, defending, said: 'He lost his temper and punched somebody in the face with a glass in his hand. He did not push glass into his face.

He added: 'At the time he was out of work and his relationship with his girlfriend was breaking down. It s fair to say he had a problem with this. He lost his temper and lashed out, since then he has not been in any trouble.

'He has a new relationship now and work he is a skilled plumber. He accepts that this person, who was with friends of his, was not seeing his ex-girlfriend and he jumped to the wrong conclusion. He feels troubled that this person from his circle of friends suffered these injuries.

Ordering Ashdown, who had a previous conviction for assault, to serve 18 months in prison, Judge Richard Brown said: 'This was a very unpleasant attack causing serious and lasting injury to the victim. You have a record of violence and I take the view this offence is so serious custody is justified.