A man has been jailed after attacking his victim with a glass in Maidstone, sending them to hospital.

Luke Priestman, 29, pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to inflicting grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

Early in the morning on August 9, 2020, a man in his forties was in Union Street when he saw a group of men walking towards him.

One of the group, Luke Priestman, was holding a glass in one hand and appeared angry.

The man did not know Priestman but had seen him in the area and, fearing he was going to get himself in trouble, tried to persuade him to put the glass down.

Despite his persistent efforts to calm the situation down, Priestman suddenly struck the victim with the glass. The glass smashed and caused a large cut to the victim’s left ear.

The victim fended off his assailant and the latter was pulled away by his associates. The group then ran from the scene and the victim later went to hospital for medical attention.

The suspect was arrested at his home address in Queen Anne Road, Maidstone. He was later selected in an identification procedure and charged.

On Monday, the 29-year-old received three years’ imprisonment which included the activation of a suspended sentence.

PC Jamie Webb, of Maidstone CID, said: "This was an unprovoked attack on a public spirited person who was seeking to calm down a potentially violent situation.

"The victim suffered a serious head wound and the effects of the assault continue to have an impact of him.

"Priestman has been remanded in custody since the incident and a further period behind bars is entirely appropriate."