A THUG who smashed a glass into another man's face has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

CCTV footage of the horrific attack was played in Mold Crown Court, where it was heard that James Robert Sullivan was so drunk on vodka, he could not remember what he had done.

Judge Niclas Parry told Sullivan, 38, of Terrig Street in Queensferry, that it had been "a vicious, sickening and wholly unprovoked attack" upon a total stranger, who was simply sitting in a pub watching football on television.

Sullivan, he said, could clearly be seen goading the man on the CCTV footage of the attack, before he simply turned, selected a glass, emptied its contents and in the most deliberate act imaginable, "smashed it into the victim's face."

Judge Parry said that if any other court reviewed the sentence he had imposed then it should be ensured that the CCTV footage should be shown.

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The Boathouse in Connah's Quay

The injuries were cuts and damaged teeth which cost £800 to treat.

The defendant, the judge said, was fortunate to have only been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. It was gravely aggravated by his previous record for violence, the fact that he was under the influence of alcohol having drunk the better part of a bottle of vodka, and the fact that the attack took place on licensed premises.

He took into account his guilty plea, his remorse and the fact that mercifully the injuries were not as serious as they could have been, but it had to be a significant sentence.

Prosecuting barrister Frances Willmott said the attack happened at The Boathouse public house in Connah's Quay, on November 2 last year.

Sullivan admitted assault, occasioning actual bodily harm, on Kyle Jones, at a hearing in the magistrates court last month.

The assault was completely unprovoked and completely unexpected.

Mr Jones and a friend were watching television, the defendant approached clearly drunk, and he initially falsely claimed to be the pub owner.

They felt uncomfortable, they were smiling and agreeing with him hoping that he would go away and he told them that he "used to be a nightmare, stabbing and glassing people."

He said that he could stab both of them. The conversation came to an end, he turned away and they were glad that he was leaving.

But he reached over to the bar, poured beer out of a glass and used that to hit Mr Jones in the face.

Questioned by the judge why it had not been charged as wounding, she said that was based on the injuries which while unpleasant could have been a lot more serious. The film showed how the glass was thrust with full force into his face.

She said the victim was taken to hospital, had a small wound to the inside of the lower lip and bruising. Three teeth were fractured.

Interviewed, Sullivan said he drank three quarters of a bottle of vodka before going to the pub and could remember nothing about what he had done. He was shocked at his actions when shown the film and apologised.

Mr Jones in a victim impact statement told how it had made him anxious, he had not been back to the pub since, and he had lost weight initially by not being able to eat and also because of the anxiety he suffered.

Sullivan and previous convictions for 23 offences including three for violence.

Defending barrister Jemma Gordon said that when he drank to excess he had difficulties with his temper and that had manifest itself in shocking behaviour. He had expressed remorse and was "completely ashamed of himself."

There had been gaps in his offending and he had shown that he could keep out of trouble. She said the probation service had indicated that it was prepared to work with him in the community if the court would consider an exceptional course and suspend the sentence. He was motivated to make changes.