A York man has been jailed after a vicious glassing attack on a woman who required surgery to rebuild part of her face.
David Andrew White, 37, of Chapelfields Road, initially lied to police and said the victim had inflicting the injuries on herself, York Crown Court heard.
Shortly after 1.30am on Friday, 4 November last year, staff at a York shop called 999 to report that White was inside, covered in blood.
White told store staff that he and the victim had had hit each other over the head with a hammer and that he was going back to the address to make sure that the victim was OK.
Police went to the property and were met by White who had minor cuts on his hands.
The victim was inside, covering her face with a cloth. She had a deep laceration to her nose which was bleeding heavily.
The victim said that White was responsible for causing the injury and he was arrested. She needed an operation to repair the damage to her nose.
In a statement to officers, the woman said she and White had been on a night out and returned to her home.
White became verbally aggressive towards her. He started throwing the victims property about, and the victim went into her child’s bedroom to try and get away from him.
He followed her and asked her for a cigarette. When she refused, he then lashed out, hitting the victim in the face with a pint glass which smashed and caused the significant injury to the her nose.
Restraining order
When White was interviewed he initially told officers that the victim had caused the injury to herself.
He later admitted that this was not true and that he was responsible. He also said that he had forgotten that the glass was in his hand, claimed that she was the aggressor and said that she had caused the damage to her property. He had been trying to calm her down, he said.
White pleaded guilty to wounding, but denied the more serious offence of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. A jury found him not guilty of that offence.
Judge Simon Hickey said: “I don’t believe for a moment this woman would start smashing up her own furniture and her own flat. I just don’t find that credible.”
He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment of which he must serve nine months before he will be released on license. He was also with issued a 10-year restraining order to protect the victim.
Lead Investigator, Anne Yates, of the York Investigation Hub at North Yorkshire Police, said: “Following this incident the victim had to undergo surgery to help rebuild her nose.
“It’s not just the physical damage that the victim has suffered as this has also impacted her mentally.
“I hope that the outcome at court will provide an amount of closure for her and allow her to move on from a difficult time of her life, safe in the knowledge that White cannot harm her.
“If you are a victim of domestic abuse – be that physical or mental – please do not hesitate to report it to the police. We will take action. We also work with other agencies that can provide you with support and advice. You could also help to protect other victims of abuse.”
You can report domestic abuse on the North Yorkshire Police website here.