South Tyneside attacker who left victim with 'blood squirting from his neck' walks free from court
"There came a point when the complainant was struck to the neck with a shard of broken glass from an alcohol bottle.”
An attacker who hit a rival with a bottle and left him with "blood squirting from his neck" has walked free.
Mark Seff lashed out at the other man with the glass weapon he picked up from the ground and caused a "triangular shaped" wound below his ear.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the pair knew each other and had both been drinking in South Shields, on April 8.
Prosecutor said Graham O'Sullivan said: "There came a point when the complainant was struck to the neck with a shard of broken glass from an alcohol bottle and he felt blood squirting from his neck.
"An unknown couple helped him to an ambulance, with something applied to his neck to stem the bleeding."
The court heard the victim spent three days in hospital and the injury was closed under general anaesthetic.
Seff, 49, of Pine Avenue, South Shields, admitted unlawful wounding.
Seff's basis of plea, which was accepted by prosecutors, was that he and his partner had been heading to a park in South Shields, were drinking vodka and coke and had stopped at a shop for cigarettes.
He said the victim, who was drinking from a bottle of whiskey and was known to him, started asking for money to buy drugs.
Seff said when he and his partner left the park, the victim was waiting, and he ended up on the ground with the other man going through his pockets.
Mr O'Sullivan added: "The defendant then picked up a nearby glass bottle and accepts striking the complainant in the area of his head, his neck. The defendant accepts the level of force used went beyond what would have been necessary for lawful self-defence."
Liam O'Brien, defending, said Seff was "scared by what was happening".
Recorder Richard Stubbs sentenced Seff, who has been in custody on remand, to nine months, suspended for 18 months, with probation requirements.
The recorder said Seff, who has suffered bereavement, was "terrified" of the victim, now regrets his behaviour and has been sober and motivated while in custody.