12:13pm Saturday 5th July 2008
A THUG who smashed a glass bottle over a man's head after a night of drinking has been im-prisoned for three-and-a-half-years.
Liam Newton, 21, of Hobleythick Lane, in Westcliff, attacked Brendon Atkinson with the bottle in London Road, Southend, last summer.
Newton appeared at Basildon Crown Court alongside Rhys Griffiths, 20, of Colchester Close, Southend, who punched the victim in the head during the attack.
The court heard Newton saw Mr Atkinson, walking arm-in-arm with another man and started shouting homophobic comments at him.
But Mr Atkinson was walking with his friend Andy Lawrence who had been celebrating his wedding, the court heard.
An argument broke out between the two groups at about 2am on June 9 last year. It was then that Griffiths and Newton launched their attack.
Mr Atkinson was left with a serious injury after being hit over the back of the head with the bottle, the court heard.
Defending Newton, Maria Dineen, said he was remorseful when he was shown photographs of the victim's injuries.
She said this is Newton's first prison sentence and he would be a "vulnerable prisoner."
She added that he was now a "changed man."
Newton was sentenced to three-and-a-half-years for grievous bodily harm at Basildon Crown Court.
Griffiths denied a charge of grievous bodily harm but admitted affray at a hearing earlier this year.
He was given a community order for 12 months and given a curfew not to go out at weekends after 9pm.
He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation.
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