A Kirkby Stephen man who wounded a house guest with a glass and left him permanently disfigured has been spared jail after a judge heard he had completely turned his life around.
Patrick Green, 31, of Briarcote, attacked Dale Pape during a drunken incident which occurred at his town flat on September 4 2021.
Carlisle Crown Court heard yesterday how Green drank whisky after inviting Mr Pape and two others back to his flat. Green became more intoxicated, hitting his own wall with a hammer and punching a mirror, cutting his hand.
There was then a flashpoint as Mr Pape stood up for a woman inside the address and was attacked by Green, who hit him in the face with a glass.
Bleeding heavily from a deep wound, Mr Pape was taken to hospital for treatment. In an impact statement, he spoke of having a prominent permanent scar which left him anxious and worried that other would feel he looks like a thug.
Green admitted unlawfully wounding Mr Pape and had also been handed a suspended prison sentence in early 2022 for a domestic attack on his partner, who was punched, strangled and had thumbs inserted into her eyes.
But defence lawyer, Jeff Smith, told the court that Green, in the past 18 months, had turned his life around completely, reducing his alcohol intake while holding down a motorway services job.
Mr Smith conceded Green’s attack on Mr Pape had been appalling, and added: “He very much genuinely regrets the injury that he caused to the complainant.”
The men had since broadly reconciled.
Judge Nicholas Barker, noting Green’s recent positive progress, concluded immediate imprisonment would be a retrograde step, and suspended a 15-month prison sentence.
Green must complete 180 hours’ unpaid work, rehabilitation, a 120-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement and pay Mr Pape £800 compensation.
