A teenage barmaid's nose "exploded" after she was attacked by a drinker at a powerboat club.
Alan Smith forcefully struck the innocent young woman as she lay helplessly on the floor, then launched an unprovoked assault on another victim. The teen rugby player may now need plastic surgery to fix the facial injury inflicted upon her by the lorry driver.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Tuesday, that an altercation broke out at Lancashire Powerboat Racing Club - based on Carr Mill Dam in St Helens - at around 8.30pm on April 15 last year. Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, described how Alyx Bridge was working behind the bar of the social club where Paul Barrow was drinking with a group of other customers.
READ MORE: Police issue CCTV image after woman raped in city centre
But they "became agitated" with the man as they had been buying him drinks, with a scuffle breaking out inside when they suggested it was his round. He accused them of "bullying him", with staff including the teenager intervening.
Ms Bridge then led Mr Barrow outside in order to escort him into a taxi. But, as they waited for the car to arrive, one of the party "burst out of the doors" and charged at them "full tilt" closely followed by Smith.
The worker attempted to stand between them, but the other male "careered straight into her" and knocked her to the ground. The defendant then leant over her and delivered another blow to the now 19-year-old university student.
She described how her "nose exploded" as a result of the Smith's attack and left her covered in blood. Ms Bridge then ran back inside the premises to escape any further attack.
Afterwards, the 49-year-old assailant - of Whiteside Road in Haydock - turned his attentions to Mr Barrow. The married dad-of-two was caught on CCTV punching and kicking him as he lay on the ground, having fallen as he attempted to flee.
Smith then returned to the bar and changed his clothing. He has no previous convictions.
Ms Bridge, who plays for St Helens women's rugby league team, was left with damage to her nasal cartilage as a result of the attack and may require a rhinoplasty to correct the issue. She has not returned to work at the club and has even suffered panic attacks during games since the incident.
A statement read out to the court on her behalf said: "I was a young woman trying to help a customer out. I did not deserve to be treated this way.
"I miss my life before the attack. It has changed in every way."
Chris Hegarty, defending, told the court that his client had worked a 12-hour night shift the evening before the incident then went to the club to attend an Easter egg hunt and watch St Helens' Good Friday clash with Wigan Warriors on the television after two hours of sleep. He added: "This defendant is ashamed of what he has done.
"He is devastated by what he has done in relation to Ms Bridge. He asserts that he will never trouble these courts again.
"It was just a normal, happy occasion. He was told that Mr Barrow had been acting inappropriately to staff.
"This is clearly wholly out of character for this defendant. He can only attribute such abhorrent behaviour to the amount of alcohol he had consumed which caused him to act impulsively and with recklessness.
"He can't believe he has done what he did - a mild mannered, non-aggressive male. I don't think the courts will be seeing this defendant again."
Smith admitted two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was handed a 14-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months.
Sentencing Recorder Kate Cornell said: "She was simply performing her duties in helping another customer to leave and get a taxi. She was entirely innocent of any wrongdoing, yet she was knocked down and struck with significant force.
"She will take a long time to recover. This was an entirely unprovoked and unjustified attack.
"You have taken responsibility for your offending. You accept now that you should never have got involved and are ashamed of your conduct, as you should be.
"Goodness knows what you were thinking. You have demonstrated genuine remorse and shame.
"I can see today you are cowed by this incident, as you should be. It may have been a moment of madness, but the ripple effect of your actions is huge.
"Your actions were clearly impulsive and reckless. It does seem completely out of character."
Smith must also complete 250 hours of unpaid work, an alcohol abstinence requirement of six months and a 12-month curfew from 8pm to 6am on Sunday nights. He was given a restraining order banning him from contact Ms Bridge for three years, and was told to pay her £800 in compensation.
READ NEXT: Face of historic paedophile jailed for assaulting schoolboy
Killer admits assaulting woman days before he beat security guard to death
Thug says 'it happens' after kicking man in head in chicken shop brawl
Man in court after Suites Hotel protest disorder
Vigilante killers, murderer's mum and shooting gang among 14 crooks jailed this week
