Man walks free over drink-fuelled attacks
Mr Whitty said Davies struck again while on bail on November 11, 2017, when he threw a glass at Vincent Van Hien, who was out with his partner at The Royal pub.
A row brewed after Mr Van Hien spoke to a man with whom he had ‘some issue previously’.
Davies began shouting at Mr Van Hien, and door staff told them to calm down.
Mr Whitty said the defendant moved behind another man and ‘threw a glass at the complainant, described as an over-arm throw with some force’ in Mr Van Hien’s face.
The victim was ‘taken to the ground by the door staff and as he tried to struggle free he came into contact with some broken glass’.
Once on his feet, he tried to chase Davies, the court heard.
After initially pleading not guilty to unlawful wounding, Davies eventually admitted ABH in connection with the incident.
Although the injuries appeared bloody, medics cleaned them up and found Mr Van Hien had suffered ‘cuts’ or ‘lacerations’ which Judge Steven Everett said appeared ‘relatively minor’.
A probation officer told the court she thought Davies would comply with a non-custodial sentence.
She said Davies had drunk ‘eight to 10 pints’ every other day in the past but, supported by his family, has not had any alcohol for six months.
She said his employer was happy to keep him on, adding that he had three NVQ trade qualifications.
He had complied with a previous unpaid work order and had good character references.
John Parry-Jones, defending, said his client had pleaded guilty, was remorseful, had not instigated the rows before the assaults, had kept out of trouble since November 2017, and had waited a long time for the cases to be heard through no fault of his own.
Judge Everett said the police had to accept some responsibility for ‘inefficiency’ in bringing the case to court despite stretched resources, and said the first offence dated back to 2016.
The court heard Davies had been mired in difficulties obtaining legal aid, and had racked up fees of £4,500, although the judge asked for these to be changed to reflect the unlawful wounding charge being swapped for ABH.
Davies had two previous convictions for excess alcohol in 2015 and public order in 2016.
Judge Everett sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to complete 180 hours’ unpaid work.
He must also pay each victim £250 in compensation at a rate of £50 a month over 10 months.
Judge Everett said Mr Lucas could have lost his life and Mr Van Hien could have lost his sight.
Sentencing Davies, he said: “The two incidents were actually very similar. You were in a pub, you drank too much.
“In the first altercation you’ve got yourself embroiled in whatever this row was and during the course of that Mr Lucas was then attacked either in or outside The Barley Mow public house in Runcorn and you joined in that attack with at least one if not two others.”
He added: “That attack was relatively brief but nevertheless could have been so much worse.
“Your victim was kicked by you to the head.
“It hardly needs me to spell out the potential consequences of that.
“He could have died and if he died you would now be facing a sentence for a charge of at the very least manslaughter and the sentence would be many years.” ●