Last updated at 16:42, Thursday, 27 September 2012

A MAN who drank “huge amounts” of lager and vodka threw his glass in the face of an old school colleague, a court heard.

Steven Wilding needed hospital treatment after Benjamin Bolton, 20, assaulted him in the Piel Castle pub in Market Street, Ulverston, on August 9.

Mrs Lisa Hine, prosecuting, told Furness Magistrates’ Court the pub was busy because it was karaoke night.

Mr Wilding noticed two men in the pub – one of whom was Bolton, who he went to school with, but no words were spoken.

Mrs Hine said Bolton approached Mr Wilding and threw the contents of his pint glass in his face.

Standing around four feet away, Bolton then threw the glass into Mr Wilding’s face.

The glass hit him on the right cheek, causing bleeding, and Bolton left by the front door.

A customer, who was a nurse, helped the victim before he was taken to Furness General Hospital for treatment.

A witness confirmed to police that Mr Wilding had said nothing to Bolton to provoke the attack

In police interview, Bolton said he had drunk “huge amounts of lager and vodka”.

He told officers he had no reason to attack Mr Wilding and admitted he needed help for his alcohol addiction.

Mr Trystan Roberts, defending, told the court on Tuesday that Bolton had found the last six months difficult because he was suffering from depression.

His daughter died 12 months ago and that caused him some “very real anxiety and depression”.

He is taking antidepressants, suffers from a rare type of rheumatism and sees a doctor every two weeks.

Mr Roberts said: “He doesn’t have any recollection of the incident and finds it very difficult to believe he would deliberately throw a glass in someone’s face.

“But he accepts full responsibility for the consequences of his actions.”

Bolton, of North Lonsdale Terrace, Ulverston, admitted assault.

Proceedings were adjourned until October 2 for sentence.

Bolton was bailed on the condition he does not contact the complainant or enter pubs.

District judge Gerald Chalk told him a prison sentence would be an option open to the court.

First published at 16:11, Thursday, 27 September 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk