Man scarred for life in Shropshire pub glassing, court told

Daniel Wood was injured at the Sambrook Vaults in Shropshire Street, Market Drayton, on December 20 last year.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday, Jonathon Taylor, 42, denied a charge of wounding Mr Wood with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, and an alternative charge of wounding.

Members of the jury were shown a 13-minute CCTV video filmed in the crowded pub on December 20, just after 9pm, when the incident took place.

Giving evidence, still with a large scar on his left cheek, 27 year old Mr Wood admitted he had been drunk, having been to a work Christmas party at Bletchley, near Tern Hill.

He said he and five or six others went on to the Sambrook Vaults but said he remembered little about what happened.

"I remember my head going back and being dragged out of the pub and next thing I was in the ambulance going to hospital," he said.

Mr Danny Smith for Taylor, suggested that Mr Wood had been aggressive towards Taylor who, he claimed, had hit out in self defence.

"You were revved up," he told Mr Wood.

Mr Wood said: "I don't remember, but whatever happened didn't warrant me having a pint glass smashed into my face."

Kiah Lewis, barman at the Sambrook Vaults, said he remembered Mr Wood from school and went to say hello to him as he was dancing on the dance floor.

"His group was raucous but jovial," he said.

"The next time I saw him was after I heard a glass smashing. He had a severe injury to his face.

"There were several guys on each side, holding them both back.There was aggression on behalf of them both."

A statement from Mr Lawrence Pugh, door supervisor, said he knew Taylor, of The Croft, Market Drayton, as a regular at the pub and said he was not usually a troublemaker.

Mr Wood was taken by ambulance to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford where he needed stitches to a deep wound to his left cheek.

The court was told that the hospital sent Mr Wood a warning letter because of his aggressive manner.

The hearing continues.