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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Sian Napier, 31 July 2019.
Samuel Walters jailed for attack outside Early Bird Pub in Grove.
A former deputy head boy with an unblemished character has been
jailed after he glassed a man in the face.
The attack, outside the Early Bird pub at Grove Green, near
Maidstone, in December 2017, left the victim with a permanent
disfigurement to his face.
Samuel Walters, 23, was convicted in April after a trial of unlawful
wounding and appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday (July 26)
for sentence.
Samuel Walters has been jailed.
Judge Julian Smith told him: “This was a series of steps which
culminated in a grave injury.”
The court heard that Walters had been at the pub with his then
girlfriend when he was involved in a dispute with another man.
Walters used racial language to the man as he left the pub, carrying
two drinks in his hand. The victim followed Walters into the car
park where the assault took place.
Judge Smith told Walters: “You swilled him with one of the pints in
your hand. He approached you and you quite deliberately glassed him
in the face.
“It was deliberate though I accept that you did not intend to cause
these appalling injuries.
“You were racially insulting to him and struck that deliberate blow
with the glass. You discarded it when it broke and put another in
your hand to arm yourself again. You even took a drink from the
glass while the victim was held back.”
The assault caused a 7cm long “deep and gaping” wound to the
victim’s cheek and a small one to his neck.
Judge Smith told Walters: “You challenged all aspects of this case
and I could see not a hint of remorse at the trial.”
He said an additional feature was racial aggravation.
Brian Dean, defending, said there had been no premeditation and
Walters had taken leave of his senses and behaved in a way he had
never before nor since.
“It was a senseless, foul-mouthed comment made in drink,” Mr Dean
said. “It was a hollow comment and did not represent any racial
hostility to the victim. Walters is not a racist.
“It was a one-off, out of character incident which lasted seconds in
an otherwise unblemished life.”
Mr Dean said Walters, who lives in London, had been deputy head boy
at his school and had a good degree.
In jailing Walters for two years nine months Judge Smith said: “I
find this was racially aggravated but I do not find you a racist.
You have a genuinely exemplary character.” |
