Bottle attack scarred housemate

A FOOTBALL fan was attacked with a bottle as he watched a match on television, a court has heard.

Daniel Ambrose launched the unprovoked assault on his victim in the house they shared in Swansea, leaving the man with a permanent scar on his forehead

In the months before the glassing, the 21-year-old defendant had stopped taking his mental health medication and had significantly increased his consumption of alcohol.

Swansea Crown Court heard the incident took place on the evening of June 21 this year at a house of multiple occupancy in the Uplands area of the city. Ambrose and his victim had had some contact earlier in the day and the defendant was described as being not his usual self, but there was nothing to predict the violence that would follow.

That evening while his housemate was in his room watching the football, the defendant walked in and attacked him. Though the weapon has never been recovered, the prosecution believe it was a bottle.

The victim suffered a laceration to his forehead just below the hairline and has been left with a permanent scar. The court heard he already suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and since the attack has trouble sleeping and lives a reclusive life.

Daniel Ambrose, of Mirador Crescent, Uplands, Swansea, was convicted of unlawful wounding at trial.

Emma Harris, for Ambrose, said a letter from the defendant’s GP set out the mental health issues he was experiencing.

She said Ambrose would benefit from structured help from the Probation Service and that he also had a supportive family who would assist him. The barrister added that her client had been on remand in custody for almost six months.

Recorder David Harris said Ambrose had carried out an unprovoked attack which had left the victim with a permanent scar and which had also affected him psychologically. He noted that the defendant’s family had previously expressed their concerns that he had stopped taking his medication in March this year, which had coincided with a “substantial” increase in his consumption of alcohol. The recorder said that, given Ambrose’s mental health issues, the term of imprisonment that was due for the offence could be suspended.

Ambrose was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 18 months and was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and 180 hours of unpaid work.