A New Year’s Eve party goer who threw a glass into another drinker’s face has been ordered to pay compensation to the victim.
Zachary Lannigan was celebrating the New Year at the F&R pub in Teignmouth when he spotted a man he believed had taunted him in the past.
He threw the vodka glass he was holding which caught victim Luke Willoughby on his face and caused a cut under his eye.
Lannigan, aged 22, of Kingsway, Teignmouth, admitted wounding and was jailed for nine months, suspended for 18 months, ordered to pay £500 compensation and do 120 hours unpaid community work by Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, at Exeter Crown Court.
He told him: ‘You are 22 and of good character. This was a serious offence which involved the throwing of a glass or a glass bottle across the club. It hit the victim in the face, causing an injury which required stitches.
‘You don’t need much imagination to understand the consequences could have been more serious than they are.
‘I have been very impressed by what I have read about you and accept this was out of character and you are remorseful. It is not necessary or appropriate to send you to prison for this offence.’
Miss Katie Churcher, prosecuting, said Mr Willoughby thought he had been hit by a bottle rather than a glass but Lannigan told police he had thrown a vodka glass.
Lannigan said he threw the glass at a wall behind the victim after there had been pushing and shoving but it had hit him in the face.
Mr William Parkhill, mitigating, said Lannigan works as a builder’s labourer and is able to pay compensation.
He said there was a background of problems with a group of people and Lannigan had gone out of his way to avoid confrontation in the past and walked away from threats of violence.