Man left Shrewsbury drinker with permanent scar after Wetherspoons punch
The attack took place in a busy pub bar.
A drinker was left with a permanent scar after being punched by another man in a Shropshire Wetherspoons.
Nicholas Davies, 34, High Street, Weston Rhyn, was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court after pleading guilty to one charge of Section 20 unlawful wounding.
Suzanne Francis, prosecuting, said Davies had been in Montgomery’s Tower in Shrewsbury at around 10.30pm on January 25, 2025.
She said that the victim of Davies’ assault, Rhys Jones, had ben walking through the pub towards the front entrance.
While walking across the bar area Jones was punched to the face by Davies.
The court heard the assault saw the victim fall to the floor.
Ms Francis said that as he looked down he could see blood on his shirt, and he was helped up by others.
The court was told the punch had split the victim’s lip “completely” from his top lip to his nose.
Mr Jones was taken to hospital for treatment and had to return to have his wound stitched and cleaned.
Ms Francis said that the victim had to take several days off work, costing him several hundred pounds, and has also been left with a permanent scar from the assault.
She added that following the incident Davies had messaged the victim on Facebook to apologise repeatedly for his actions - as well as asking him not to go ahead with any criminal prosecution.
Ms Francis added: “There were many, many apologies.”
The court was told Davies also has three previous convictions for four offences.
Kevin Jones, mitigating for Davies, said there was “clearly a very different side” to the defendant, citing references from those who deal with him on a professional basis.
Sentencing, Judge Recorder Julian Taylor, said: “This was somewhat out of character because you had been out of trouble for a long time.”
He sentenced Davies to 10 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
As part of his suspended sentence order he will be required to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to the victim.
Recorder Taylor said: “What you did seems to be out of character and I hope you reflect on this and walk away next time.”
He added: “While Mr Jones may not agree with it, this could have been a lot worse and if it had been, you would have been going down to custody.”