Shrewsbury pub brawl which left man scarred for life started over spilled drink, court told

Gavin Harley caused his friend Lee Beck to fall to the floor after a fight broke.

They started arguing and then fighting, leaving one of the men scarred for life.

The drama happened at the Steam Wagon Inn Public House in Shrewsbury.

Harley, 28, of Reedham Road, Shrewsbury, had been in the pub celebrating the birth of his daughter when the trouble started.

He admitted one charge of unlawful wounding, caused by a single punch.

But he was spared a custodial jail term as Judge Jonathan Gosling decided to suspend the 15 month sentence.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that Harley had accidentally spilt Lee Beck's drink during an evening at the pub.

Mr Beck told Harley he owed him a pint, but the two then started arguing.

Prosecuting, Mr Tariq Shakoor said Harley had offered Mr Beck a cider bottle, which he rejected.

A fight then broke out in which Harley knocked Mr Beck to the floor, leaving him with injuries that needed hospital treatment.

Mr Shakoor said: "The victim Lee Beck suffered a laceration to his forehead and two wounds which required seven stitches.

"The scarring is still visible now.

"The defendant said he could not recall much of the incident but he accepts the injuries were caused by him."

Mitigating, Paul Smith said Harley was a working man who deeply regretted what happened at the Steam Wagon.

He told the court that the attack was out of character and asked for his previous good record to be taken into account.

Sentencing the 28 year old, Judge Gosling said: "I have thought very carefully about your case and read a lot about you.

"When you were out celebrating your daughter's birth that night the last thing you were looking for was trouble.

"There were no problems until you spilt your friends drink.

"You did not intend to cause serious injury but the results were long term.

"He has got to live with the reminder as he now has a scar. He even lost his job as his employer thought he had been in a fight.

"I am quite sure you are sincere and you have readily told everyone you deeply regret it.

"It is made more serious as it was fuelled by alcohol and was in a public place. But this was a single blow and not premeditated."

Harley was sentenced to a 15 months sentence suspended for two years and was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation.