Man pleads guilty after bottle attack at Millennium Green

Daniel Joseph Lavery was with friends at the Millennium Green in Bridport at around 12.30am on September 24 last year when he approached the victim and hit him in the face with a bottle.

Lavery, aged 39, of South Walk, Bridport, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.

Prosecuting, Puneet Grewal, told Lavery's sentencing hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court that the defendant admitted to hitting the victim in an 'unprovoked' attack following an altercation.

He was arrested and interviewed by police and told officers he was drunk at the time of the attack.

Ms Grewal read out a personal statement from the victim, a man aged in his 20s.

The court heard how the victim was taken to hospital for treatment to a cut to his forehead and an injury to his eye. He said the attack left him with limited vision for a week and had to miss a number of shifts at work as a result.

He said the attack had also impacted him mentally and said he used to be fine walking to and from his home late at night but now feels on edge and nervous walking alone.

The court heard Lavery has a number of previous convictions, some of which were similar in nature.

As reported in the Bridport News in March this year Lavery was jailed for 14 weeks for racially abusing and spitting toward a family visiting Bridport.

Story from Bridport News, April 1

Mitigating, David Freeland, said Lavery had recently been in custody after being sentenced for that offence and was released in May this year.

He said his last prison sentence had been "a real wake up call" for Lavery and said he is "massively ashamed" of what he has done.

Mr Freeland told the court that since coming out of prison Lavery had stopped drinking and has been spending more time with his family. He said the time Lavery has had since leaving prison has been the best of his life because he can see life more clearly.

Mr Freeland said of the assault at Millennium Green that Lavery had "misinterpreted the situation and foolishly lashed out".

The judge, Recorder Stead, told Lavery he had an "appalling" record of previous convictions.

He said: "You are extremely lucky you are not facing a charge of grievous bodily harm."

Lavery was sentenced to eight months in custody suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days, 80 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to take part in an alcohol abstinence programme and enrol in the Building Better Relationships programme. He must pay a £127 victim surcharge.