BABY-FACED THUG SHOVED GLASS INTO MAN’S FACE IN PUB BRAWL
21-YEAR-OLD JAILED FOR VICIOUS ATTACK
A 21-year-old baby-faced thug who “blindsided” a man by glassing him in the face has been jailed.
Daniel Howlett, 21, of Chestnut Avenue, Hedon, attacked the man in a Hull pub on October 26 last year.
Howlett had been drinking for about 12 hours and was drunk when a fight broke out between his group of friends and another group of people.
Prosecuting, Rachel Scott told Hull Crown Court on Thursday, October 22, that the victim, who is a former doorman, intervened to try to calm the situation down, but was instead set upon by Howlett.
She said: “The next thing he was blindsided and hit to the left of his eye. He went to the bathroom and that was when he realised he was bleeding quite badly near his left eye. He didn’t see who had struck him.”
CCTV footage was played to the court that showed Howlett drinking from the glass he later used as a weapon. Later in the footage, he can be seen smashing the glass into the man’s face.
After police arrived and viewed the CCTV Howlett, who was still in the pub, was arrested and interviewed.
Ms Scott said: “He was shocked when he saw the footage. He said he had the wrong bloke.
“The complainant went to Bransholme Health Centre and was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary where his cut was seen to. There was no injury caused to his eye.”
Judge David Tremberg told the court Howlett was “very fortunate” his actions did not cause more injury to the man.
Mitigating, Michael Masson, said Howlett was remorseful and has been in no trouble since.
“He is of previous good character and has no previous convictions,” Mr Masson said, “The man was trying to break things up and he got injured as a result.”
The barrister invited Judge Tremberg to consider a suspended sentence for Howlett, which the judge declined.
Instead he sentenced Howlett to a year imprisonment for wounding, of which he must serve half of before being released on licence.
The judge said: “Some sort of spat happened while people were dancing but you had a whole array of options open to you to allow you to deal with any such issues had arisen in a lawful way. What you did served to seriously escalate what was unfolding.
“You blindsided him with a heavy blow to his head and you used the glass with which you had been drinking from just seconds before.
The glass smashed on impact.
“The injury was a nasty wound and it could have been so serious that you could have blinded him and you were fortunate not to do so.
“The court must send out a clear message to anyone who decides to behave like you did. Such behaviour will not be tolerated.”
Howlett was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £149.