A MAN who smashed a bottle over a revellers head during a mass pub brawl has been spared jail.
Shocking CCTV footage of the incident played to a court, showed about 20 people were caught up in the pub violence.
The victim of the glassing was left with a laceration on his neck which needed stitching.
Joseph Aristide had already admitted one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent.
The 33-year-old, of Clifton Drive, Bloxham, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.
Outlining the case, prosecutors said the incident of violence took place shortly before 2am on April 28, 2018 at the then-Saxon pub – now the Lamb Inn – on Sheep Street, Bicester.
A brawl broke out involving a number of revellers, including Aristide and his eventual victim.
In CCTV footage of the violence played to the court, screams and shouts could be heard while the scuffle within the large fight continued.
Aristide was seen to pick up a glass bottle before bringing it down hard on to his victim, striking his neck.
The bottle was seen to shatter, with shards of glass flying around, before the victim sank to his knees holding his neck.
As a result of the attack the victim received a 4cm laceration to the neck which required five stitches.
During police interview, Aristide said he had drunk a bottle of vodka that night and taken cocaine. Of the violence, he said he was at the scene but had ‘no recollection of what happened.’
He later admitted the single offence.
In mitigation, defence barrister Gordana Turudija-Austin said that her client accepted that his behaviour had been ‘truly shocking’ that night.
She said that since the incident, her client had gained employment and moved away from the Bicester area.
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Sentencing, Judge Nigel Daly said if Aristide had been convicted of a more serious offence in relation to the violence he would be considering a jail term of at least five years.
Aristide was handed a 16-month jail term, suspended for 18 months.
He must also carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and 30 days programme participation. He is also barred from the pub for two years.
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