Attack left student’s face ‘hanging off’

‘I feel that I will be misjudged because of the way I will look’

A student left with part of his face “hanging off” after an unprovoked attack in Canterbury high street fears people will now misjudge him because of his physical scars.

Ayataeb Saudin suffered a shattered jaw and significant facial injuries after he was slashed with a glass bottle and then beaten with a belt in a “horrific” assault lasting eight minutes.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how he was set upon by Callum Gabbitas, 22, and an accomplice as he walked through the city centre with friends.

The sustained attack - which was caught on CCTV - left Mr Saudin needing emergency surgery and spending four days in hospital.

“At the time, I could see part of my face hanging off out of the corner of my eye,” he told the court.

“I also lost a lot of blood as a result of this injury.

“As far as I am aware, my jaw was shattered on both sides of my face following the attack.”

Mr Saudin now suffers mental anguish because of his scars.

“I feel really lost because I believe I am going to have a significant scar for the rest of my life - I feel that I will be misjudged because of the way I will look,” he said.

“I am currently studying at university and I worry that I will not be able to achieve my ideal jobs.

“I have had a lot of unwanted attention due to the injury to my face, and a lot of people asking me what has happened.

“I feel this is something I am going to have to learn to deal with for a while.”

The court was told how Gabbitas and three others confronted Mr Saudin and his friends, who had enjoyed an evening drinking, in the early hours of Sunday, May 23.

Gabbitas and an accomplice erupted into violence, with Gabbitas thrashing Mr Saudin in the face with a glass bottle and repeatedly with his belt buckle, prosecutor Abigail White explained.

One of Mr Saudin’s friends was also beaten and kicked in the head as he lay on the floor, CCTV showed.

Gabbitas and a woman fled the scene in a taxi, but he was tracked down to an address supplied to police.

He gave a no comment interview but later admitted wounding with intent before trial.

His accomplices are yet to be identified. Gabbitas, appearing from HMP Elmley via videolink with family in the public gallery, remained passive as Mr Saudin told of his pain.

The judge, recorder Simon Sterling, told Gabbitas: “You, together with three others, were in High Street in Canterbury, when you came across them.

“When you approached them one of your number appeared to be reasonably friendly to begin with, but then an entirely unprovoked attack took place.

“The victims tried to defend themselves. A woman tried to intervene where you, with a bottle in your hand, while under the influence of alcohol, caused the bottle to smash and the horrific injury to [Mr Saudin’s] face. “That wasn’t sufficient. “You used your belt on My Saudin. I have watched the CCTV and this is an assault that continued for the best part of eight minutes.”

Gabbitas was “shocked by the footage” and wrote a letter to the court displaying remorse, his lawyer said.

Phil Rowley, mitigating, said Gabbitas was unaware who his accomplices were, as he met them the same night.

“He can offer no explanation for his actions, but recognises it is wrong,” he continued.

Gabbitas, of Bramshaw Road, Canterbury, pleaded guilty to affray and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was jailed for five years and seven months on Friday.

Callum Gabbitas has been jailed for more than five years