Man jailed for pub glass attack

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A 27-year-old man has been jailed for nearly five years for an attack on a bricklayer with a broken pint glass in a pub that has left him disfigured.

Lee Whelan, of Wrexham, caused permanent damage to Michael Jackson, a judge heard at Mold Crown Court.

The 21-year-old's face is partially paralysed and droops, he cannot close one eye and has to wear a patch to bed at night to sleep.

Whelan admitted wounding with intent to inflict grievious bodily harm.

The court heard Whelan smashed his beer glass on a window sill at The Rollers Arms in Southsea, Wrexham, on the night of 17 July last year and thrust it into his victim's face.

He then pushed the jagged edge of the broke glass up the face of Mr Jackson who had been trying to break up an argument.

Prosecutor David Mainstone said it has caused a "20cm long (8ins) wound from the tip of his mouth up the jaw line to above the ear."

Mr Jackson, from Wrexham, told the court how whatever happened to his attacker for what he had done "he will never have to look in the mirror and see what I have to look at every day."

It is difficult to describe how terrible it has been for me and my family Michael Jackson, victim

He said his life had been "turned completely upside down".

Not only had he been disfigured but it had affected him emotionally and he told how he feared that his appearance would put people, including potential employers, off him, thinking that he was a thug.

"Nothing could be further from the truth. I abhor violence," he said.

In a victim impact statement, he told how he had been permanently disfigured, was very conscious of his appearance and could not longer eat out in restaurants because he dribbled what he ate.

"It is difficult to describe how terrible it has been for me and my family," he said.

Interviewed, Whelan initially claimed that he believed that he was about to be attacked and acted to defend himself.

The judge, Mr Recorder Duncan Bould, said that it was a grave injury and it was not yet known if the partial paralyses would be permanent.

"What we do know is that despite physiotherapy and the best efforts of doctors to repair the nerves in his face, he is partially paralysed," he said.

"It is a very severe injury indeed," he said, adding that the victim would have to carry it with him every day for the rest of his life.

The judge said to attack someone with a broken glass could easily lead to the consequences dramatically illustrated in the case and only a significant sentence was appropriate.

Whelan was jailed for four years and eight months.