Jailed for maiming man at wedding reception

A sheriff said the brutal attack had left the victim with a “horrendous” scar and Joseph Smith was lucky not to be facing a more serious charge.

Smith, 41, of Main Street, Douglas, admitted striking Zaffar Ward with a glass to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement at Motherwell’s Dalziel Park Hotel on August 3 last year.

Fellow guest Mark McCabe, 27, of Bluebell Court, Ecclefechan, admitted putting Ward in a headlock and punching him repeatedly on the head to his injury.

Smith also admitted threatening cops and their families, trying to escape from custody, banging his head repeatedly off the police van door and kicking the vehicle repeatedly.

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard Smith had been “a bit of nuisance” towards a group of young women in the bar.

One of the group described how she later saw the barman in a headlock. He was being punched by McCabe and then Smith smashed a glass or a bottle into the side of his face.

Diarmid Bruce, defending Smith, said his client had drunk far too much at the wedding reception and had no recollection of the assault.

The lawyer added: “He has significant mental health problems and also addiction issues.

“He has been diagnosed with an anti-social personality disorder, but he has only one previous conviction for assault and would be able to carry out unpaid work. He is anxious to avoid custody.”

Archie Hill, representing McCabe, pointed out that his man had played a lesser part in the attack.

He too had mental health issues and “work could be done with him” if he was given a non-custodial sentence.

Sheriff Ray Small told Smith: “I saw this man’s injury. It went down the side of his face and has left a horrendous scar. A few inches to the side and you could have been facing an even more serious charge.

“You stick a glass in someone’s face while under the influence of drink or drugs, particularly a member of staff only doing his work, and there is only one disposal appropriate.”

The sheriff jailed Smith for two years and two months for the assault and added six months, to be served consecutively, for the charge of threatening or abusive behaviour.

McCabe, formerly of Motherwell, was given a 12-month supervision order and will be tagged for four months.