A Dundee man who glassed his all-day drinking partner in a city nightclub has avoided imprisonment.
Darren Worsley carried out a seemingly unprovoked attack at Pout nightclub in Dundee.
He left his victim “severely injured” and scarred for life.
The 46-year-old was placed under supervision and handed unpaid work and has been banned from the St Andrews Street venue for a year.
Worsley had been released on bail only a week before the gruesome attack.
Previous admission
At a hearing last month, Worsley, of Ballater Place, admitted assaulting Dean McLaren to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement by smashing a glass tumbler into his face on September 5 in 2021.
Worsley had been with Mr McLaren and two others during a lengthy drinking session, Dundee Sheriff Court was previously told.
The group travelled to Pout and continued drinking before, at around 3am, Worsley launched his pint glass into Mr McLaren’s face.
Depute fiscal Christine Allan told the court: “Mr McLaren was standing at the bar, the accused was holding a pint glass.
“He struck Mr McLaren in the face with the glass.”
Worsley was ordered to leave by security staff and an ambulance was called to attend Mr McLaren after police spotted him, injured, on the street.
He had cuts to his eye, cheek, ear and head. He was scarred.
“Genuinely remorseful”
Worsley returned to the dock to be sentenced following the preparation of a social work report.
He has five previous convictions for assault.
His solicitor Anika Jethwa explained a character reference from his employer had been tendered to the court at the earlier hearing.
She said: “He is 46, he is currently in employment, he’s in a relationship, he assists in the care of his stepson.
“Mr Worsley accepts that he’d been drinking.
“He can’t provide a cogent explanation but he has taken responsibility for this offence.
“He did not wish the complainer to have to go through giving evidence.
“He’s genuinely remorseful. He has worried and concerned for the complainer and the effect on the witnesses who would have seen this.”
Ms Jethwa said that the prior to the offence, her client had managed to go a decade without offending, except a threatening or abusive behaviour conviction from 2016 and drink-driving in 2020.
She added: “I think it’s fair to say the record, over the last few years, has reduced.
“I think he has settled and matured now.
“He appreciates that given the seriousness of this offence your Ladyship will be looking at custody, but there are alternatives.”
Sentenced
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown ordered Worsley to complete 210 hours of unpaid work in the next two years, reduced from 280 hours for his early plea.
He will be supervised for a year and has been banned from Pout for as long.
The sheriff told him: “I can see from your previous convictions that you have been convicted of assault some years ago.
“There’s been quite a big gap in your offending.
“I can see you’re a hard worker. You’ve taken responsibility.
“I’m prepared to impose an alternative to custody.”
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