Shrewsbury bar attack man, 36, found guilty of assault

Sylvester Essel had used a bottle or glass on Jamie Smalley at the Vodka Source Bar in April this year.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday a jury found Essel guilty of assaulting Mr Smalley, causing him to suffer actual bodily harm.

Essel, 36, of Alma Street, Frankwell, Shrewsbury, had denied the allegation.

Judge Peter Barrie adjourned sentence until next month in order for reports to be prepared.

The court had heard that Mr Smalley was out celebrating a friend's 21st birthday on a golf-themed bar crawl in Shrewsbury town centre.

The victim, who did not know the defendant, was in the Vodka Source Bar in Barker Street, Shrewsbury, when he was hit in the face.

The court heard the weapon was either a broken bottle or glass. He suffered multiple cuts to his face, including a large slash to his nose.

His wounds were later glued and steri-stripped at hospital.

There had been tensions between Essel and Mr Smalley's friends and a girl in the group had trodden on the defendant's foot with her high heel.

A witness said Essel had pushed the girl into her and they had both fallen on to the floor. Later the defendant was seen forcing a glass into Mr Smalley's face.

Essel had a cut to his right hand after the incident but said he did not know how it had happened.

He claimed that he had been headbutted by someone and that he had told the bouncers and had been outside finishing his drink.

He suggested that witnesses who said he had hit someone with a glass were wrong, the court heard.