The Copperfield pub in Shorne

by Julia Roberts

A thug who sprayed a liquid containing ammonia into a good Samaritan's eye, burning off the surface of the cornea, has been jailed for 32 months.

Garandeep Mann, known as Gary, was squirted with the substance after he intervened in a row between Dean Mayze and his girlfriend outside Bar 24 in Gravesend in August last year.

Mayze was carrying a squeezy bottle in his hand when Mr Mann felt a sticky liquid hit his face.

He later described the pain as intense and feared he had been blinded. He spent three days in hospital and may suffer problems for the rest of his life.

Mayze, of High Street, Strood, denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was due to stand trial yesterday.

But following legal argument the prosecution added an alternative, less serious offence of wounding, to which the 25-year-old pleaded guilty.

The Crown subsequently offered no evidence to the more serious charge.

Mayze also denied a separate offence of casting a corrosive fluid at Philip Turner with intent to burn, disfigure, disable or do grievous bodily harm on November 4 last year.

Police at The Copperfields after the attack on Sunday

This related to an incident alleged to have occurred at The Copperfield pub in Shorne in which 26-year-old Mr Turner from Gravesend was sprayed with a similar substance in front of Sunday evening diners.

However, prosecutor Suzanne Crane told the court the Crown was again offering no evidence due to the reluctance of witnesses to come to court, including Mr Turner, and lack of medical evidence.

"the most striking feature of the case is the potential for greater harm than in fact occurred" – judge charles macdonald qc

Jailing Mayze for the attack on Mr Mann, Judge Charles Macdonald QC said he did not accept the spraying of the liquid was a reckless act.

"The most striking feature of the case is the potential for greater harm than in fact occurred," he added.

"There has been very little remorse and a very late plea of guilty as part of a deal with the prosecution.

"The public needs protection from you. You need rehabilitation, and this sentence must also punish and deter."

The court heard Mr Mann had suffered psychological as well as physical harm.

Susan Rodham, defending, described it as an isolated, spontaneous incident.

Referring to the alleged incident at The Copperfield, Miss Rodham told the court that there was "background" between Mayze and Mr Turner.