Saturday 4 September 2010

Pub Punter 'Bottled' After Dirty Look Sparks Brawl


A pub yob, who smashed a rival over the head with a beer bottle when a late-night brawl was sparked by a “dirty look”, has dodged jail with a suspended sentence.

Window fitter Robert Spinks, 20, of Comport Green, New Addington, Croydon left his victim covered in blood and needing emergency hospital treatment to a wound requiring five stitches.

The first-time offender pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to maliciously wounding Paul Carey, causing him grievous bodily harm, in Lloyds Bar, (pictured) Westmoreland Place, Bromley on September 17, last year.

Prosecutor Mr. Hamish Reid told the court it was 10.30pm when two groups – one including Spinks - who knew each other began fighting.

“It seems that one of the groups felt that the other was looking at them in a funny way. A dirty look,” explained Mr. Reid. “A scuffle then started.”

The victim moved in to save his brother who was surrounded by five members of the rival group.

“As he moved in to assist he felt a sharp blow to his head and as he went outside blood was pouring from the left side of his head,” said Mr. Reid.

“This defendant had struck the blow with a beer bottle to the side of the victim’s head and the strike caused it to break.”

Mr. Carey was rushed to the accident and emergency department of the Royal University Hospital, Farnborough and was treated for a Y-shaped wound above his left ear.

He was kept in overnight to ensure he did not suffer any serious internal head injury.

Spinks claims he only drank two bottles of beer that night and lashed out after seeing his friend hit over the head with a bar stool receiving a wound that required seven stitches.

Recorder Richard Bruce told Spinks: “This was serious late-night violence in licenced premises. In your favour this was one blow, albeit with a bottle in your hand.”

He sentenced the defendant to eight months youth custody, suspended for a year, ordered him to complete 150 hours community service and pay Mr. Carey £300 compensation and to pay £350 costs.

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