Wounding with Intent Earns Five Years in Prison

A drinker, who left his victim scarred for life after hitting him with a glass in a Biggleswade pub, was jailed for 5 years on 7 February.

David Harrup, 48, of The Knolls, Beeston, Sandy, does not know why he attacked bricklayer Samuel Bartram near the pool table in The White Horse. He pleaded guilty to wounding with intent on the night of 29 January last year.

The first blow broke the beer glass and the second, delivered with the broken glass, caused a cut so deep that it passed through layers of his skin leaving his face permanently scarred and numb, Luton crown court heard.

Prosecutor, Timothy Naik, said: "The two men did not know each other. Mr Harrup said something to Mr Bartram, who replied: 'What did you say? I can't hear you.' He was struck by Mr Harrup with the glass."

Harrup was pulled off Mr Bartam and was put in a taxi. He later gave himself up to the police. Mr Naik said that the victim, who works as a bricklayer, had 12 days off work and is likely to be left with permanent scarring.

Stuart Sprawson, defending, said: "He has lived a hard-working, industrious life, supporting his family and people in the community."

Mr Sprawson said the father-of-two runs his own business and is of 'positive good character,' being involved in Biggleswade Football Club and Sandy Boxing Club.

On the night, he and a group of friends had been to a number of pubs in the area and had intended to go onto a curry house, but it was shut. As a result, he said they went into the White Horse pub, where he had not been before. He said there had been an incident in the pub earlier that did not involve Mr Harrup but he became involved with Mr Bartram, striking him twice.

"He has very little memory of what happened and doesn't know the motive. It was not planned. It was not spontaneous. He doesn't fully understand why he behaved in the way he did. He is remorseful,” said Mr Sprawson.

Jailing him, Judge Michael Kay QC said: "This case shows clearer than any case I have encountered the perils, some might say, evils of drinking to excess. It was down to alcohol - that is not mitigation, not an excuse. If anything it is an aggravating feature."

He told Harrup: "What occurred was sickening. Your victim is reminded of what happened every time he looks in the mirror. He wakes up and feels pain and suffers nightmares. It has been life-changing for him."

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