Youth jailed over attacks

A Shropshire teenager who broke a man's jaw on Christmas Day then slashed a friend's face with a piece of broken glass while on bail has been put behind bars for more than three years.

Lewis Scott Higgins, 19, of Blakemere Close, Whitchurch, was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday. He had previously admitted inflicting grevious bodily harm on Liam Challoner on December 25, 2008, and wounding Stephen Chapman with intent on April 5 this year.

Higgins was sent to a young offenders' institution for six months for the first offence and three years for the second, to run consecutively.

Judge Robin Onions told Higgins both of his victims would be left with scars.

The court heard the first incident took place during a Christmas Eve night out when Mr Challoner left the Caddy Shack nightclub in Whitchurch.

Mr John Brotherton, prosecuting, said: "He remembers being struck to the left side of his face, to his jaw, he fell to the floor."

The court was told he had to undergo a two and a half hour operation.

The second incident took place at the Doddington bedsits in Whitchurch.

"The complainant sees the defendant is holding a wine bottle," added Mr Brotherton. "He threw it and it hit the complainant on the leg and smashed on the floor. The defendant picked up a piece of broken glass and used it to slash Mr Chapman."

By Rhea Parsons