A thug picked up pieces of broken glass and slashed another man after he "got the better of him" in a fight. The victim was left covered in blood and suffered five wounds.
Conor Dawson, 23, was said to be "looking for a fight" in the early hours of July 3 when he attacked acquaintance Gareth Williams with glass shards in Penarth town centre. It wasn't until after the fight that Mr Williams realised he had been cut by the defendant who ran away after inflicting the injuries.
He was believed to have been drinking or taking drugs as he appeared intoxicated during the fight, which started when Dawson through an unprovoked punch at Mr Williams. A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Thursday heard the victim had been out with friends when he bumped into Dawson who appeared "agitated".
Upon bumping into each other a second time, Dawson approached Mr Williams and punched him in the chin, which took the victim by surprise. Prosecutor Nigel Fryer said the victim "laughed it off" and said "Come on then". The two men grappled and ended up on the floor, with Mr Williams punching the defendant.
A crowd formed around the two men but Dawson ran off, and Mr Williams was told by a friend to look at his leg and saw there was blood running down it. He also noticed holes in his top and blood running from them and realised his stomach had been cut.
The defendant, of Windsor Road, Penarth, was arrested and pleaded guilty to wounding with assault. He pleaded guilty on the basis Mr Williams "had the better of him" during the fight, and saw broken glass on the floor which he used to attack him. The court heard he had previous convictions for a public order offence and possession of an offensive weapon.
In a victim personal statement, Mr Williams said the incident had affected his life and he suffered flashbacks. He added: "I feel he has sent someone after me and have to watch my back. I have scars on my body and has affected me mentally. People ask questions about my scars and has brought me unnecessary attention.
"I have been unable to play rugby for months, I made a tackle the other week which opened up a scar on my leg and I can't play as I like to. I couldn't work for two weeks and I'm self employed as a set and stage builder."
Defence barrister Harry Baker said his client had difficulty in his teens and turned to drugs to "be part of the crowd". He said the defendant was remorseful and had written a letter of apology.
Sentencing, Judge Shoman Khan said: "You were clearly intoxicated, worse for wear from drink or drugs outside a nightclub in the town centre and got into a verbal exchange with the victim for whatever reason. You wanted to fight him and struck him in the face and started the violence.
"This led to the two of you fighting and wrestling and only after the fight when you were running away he realised he had cuts to his stomach and legs. There was broken glass on the ground and used broken glass to slash the victim, causing the injuries I have seen on the photograph." Dawson was sentenced to three years and eight months imprisonment.
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