A man who smashed a glass into another man’s face during an unprovoked attack in a Fife bar has been jailed.
Christopher Robinson had been enjoying a quiet drink with friends when Barry Allan ground a tumbler into his face.
Cupar Sheriff Court heard the 34 year-old’s victim was left with blood pouring from 10 lacerations following what Sheriff Charles Macnair described a ”vicious” attack.
Unemployed Allan, of Inverie Street, St Monans, admitted that on September 11 at the Smugglers Inn, Anstruther, he assaulted Mr Robinson, striking him in the face with a glass to his injury.
Depute fiscal Nicola Henderson said: ”Mr Robinson consumed several pints of lager while speaking with a female patron who was there at the time. At about 10pm the accused walked in and consumed several alcoholic drinks while socialising with various people in the bar.”
Ms Henderson continued: ”The complainer, who was under the influence but not drunk, was sitting on a bar stool and talking to the female patron when the accused approached and entered in to his personal space.
”The accused placed his forehead against the complainer’s forehead.”
When Mr Robinson asked to be left alone, Allan let fly with the glass he was holding.
”The complainer felt a pain to the left side of his face and heard the sound of a glass smashing,” Ms Henderson said. ”Bar staff later confirmed that the accused was responsible for the assault.
”They saw that the complainer had cuts and blood over his face and the accused had cuts on his hand. There was also blood and smashed glass on the floor under the stool the complainer had been sitting on.”
Allan was promptly ejected from the pub and police were called.
”Officers noted that the complainer had 10 quarter-inch cuts to left side of his face consistent with being hit with a glass,” the depute fiscal said.
Solicitor Cheryl Wallace said father-of-one Allan had recently split up with his long-term partner and was now living with his father.
”He fully accepts responsibility for his actions,” she continued. ”Mr Allan accepts this would have a had an impact not only on the complainer, but also on the others who witnessed it.
”He admits he has significant issues with alcohol ” and that is something he wants to address.”
Mrs Wallace said Allan had abstained from alcohol for many years but began drinking again as he struggled to cope with the death of his mother two years ago.
”He is someone who tends to bottle up his feelings,” the defence agent added.
Sentencing Allan to four months behind bars, Sheriff Macnair said: ”This was a violent, unprovoked attack in licensed premises. It caused a substantial number of wounds to the complainer.
”This court will not tolerate assaults of this nature a glass can be used a vicious weapon and I need to make it abundantly clear that such behaviour is unacceptable.”