Maidstone Crown Court, where Edward Mann was sentenced

by Keith Hunt

A drunken thug who glassed a teenager in the face at a Kent pub has walked free from court.

Tonbridge Boys School student Christopher Bell, 18, was with friends at the Humphrey Bean Wetherspoon's pub in the High Street in the town when he was attacked by Edward Mann.

Mann, of Houselands Road, Tonbridge, denied assault causing actual bodily harm but was convicted by a jury at Maidstone Crown Court.

He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment - suspended for two years with 100 hours' unpaid work. He was ordered to pay Mr Bell £200 compensation.

The victim and his friends were in their school uniforms in the pub garden on June 2 last year. Words were exchanged before Mann, 26, lashed out with glass.

Mr Bell was left scarred from cuts to the right side of his face and behind the ear.

"he is normally a placid, friendly and jovial man and he cannot accept in his mind what happened…” – caroline hoggett-jones, defending

Danny Robinson, prosecuting, said the glass was used repeatedly as a weapon and smashed in the teenager's face. Mann still denies using a glass.

During sentencing, Recorder Clive Broe it was unusual for the offence to be charged as actual bodily harm and not wounding.

Caroline Hoggett-Jones, defending, said there was a degree of provocation as Mann claimed Mr Bell shouted and swore at him.

"There was a lack of premeditation," said Miss Hoggett-Jones. "The matter started off quite jovially and escalated. It was committed under the influence of alcohol.

"He has a long history of depression and previous drug abuse. He still doesn't, and will not, accept he used a glass. He is adamant that didn’t happen.

"He is normally a placid, friendly and jovial man and he cannot accept in his mind what happened."

Mann had worked as a croupier but went off sick because of depression. He was on jobseekers' allowance and was taking heroin at the time.

"This is a situation where he acted entirely out of character," added Miss Hoggett-Jones.

Recorder Broe said the attack not only caused injury to the victim, it caused stress to others.

"I am satisfied a glass was used," he said. "This may have been a case where you were acting in excessive self-defence."

The range of sentence was a community order up to 51 weeks' custody.

"I accept that what you did was entirely out of character," the judge continued.

"I have to consider not only your situation but also the general public.

"You came very close to going to prison today."