by Paul Hooper

The editorial director of a Sandwich-based magazine, who smashed a glass into the face of one of his reporters, has claimed he has no memory of the attack.

Simon Brady, 47, told how he had downed beer, wine, Pernod and B52 cocktails before the incident in the Bell Hotel.

He claimed he had been suffering from depression brought on by a heart condition – and after the incident in June last year checked into The Priory – a psychiatric hospital.

Brady, boss of Treasury Today, has admitted pushing a beer glass into the face of journalist Christopher Wilson but denies wounding him with intent.

He told the jury at Canterbury Crown Court that he didn’t blame the attack on his heart condition.

“It was just awful. I couldn’t believe that I had done this to somebody that I liked and respected. I was horrified.”

He was then given colour photographs of Mr Wilson’s injuries, and added: “This is the first time I have seen the injuries in colour. Obviously the injuries are there in the photographs but I just can’t believe that I could have done something so terrible.”

Brady, who lived in east London, said he had very little recollection of the events that night – other than taking part in a pub quiz.

“The last thing I remember in the pub were the B52 shots and I can’t remember leaving the pub. I don’t remember going into The Bell. I remember booking a room and ordering the beer.

“My next thing I remember was seeing a blue flashing light of a police car.”

Prosecutor Wendy Hewitt told the jury how Brady had been drinking with Mr Wilson and another colleague in the Crispin Inn before deciding to stay the night at the nearby Bell Hotel.

She said that during the evening Brady had accidentally spilled drink over colleague Timothy Wallace – who had then gone to bed.

But northerner Christopher Wilson and his “middle class” boss carried on bickering in the foyer of the hotel in Sandwich.

Ms Hewitt told the jury that “it wasn’t unusual” for the two men to have arguments over politics.

After the attack Mr Wilson needed treatment for the glass attack on his face.
The trial continues.