This shocking footage shows the moment an ex-soldier slashed a pub-goer’s face with a wine glass in an unprovoked attack on new year's eve.
Christopher Darcy, 27, attacked Declan McLaughlin in December 2018 after he walked over to him and his then-girlfriend - who had slumped in her seat.
Asking them if everything was OK, Darcy turned on him, grabbing a nearby wine glass and smashing it into his face.
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In the CCTV footage from the Commercial Inn in Mossley, Darcy launches at Mr McLaughlin before scuffling with him and pushing him into a nearby bay window.
After a few moments he’s eventually removed from the pub by other punters.
Mr McLaughlin was left with permanent scarring to his face and still suffered from panic attacks.
Darcy, of Somerset Road, Huddersfield, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years imprisonment after pleading guilty to wounding with intent earlier this month.
Prosecutor Paul Dockery said that on December 31 2018, Mr McLaughlin had been out with friends in Manchester city centre before returning back to Mossley.
He said he’d had a drink and went to the Commercial Inn to spend the rest of the night.
“The defendant did not know him, it was in the circumstances that brought the two together,” Mr Dockery said.
“His lady friend had fallen to the floor, there were some questions raised if her drink was spiked.
“The defendant left the public house briefly, then came back and the woman was already sat down.
“The complainant said he believed the defendant and his girlfriend had fallen out in some way when he went over to them.
“Clearly there was a conversation between them, it appeared the defendant tells him to move away but there was no aggression at all by the victim.”
In a victim personal statement read to the court, Mr McLaughlin said he was ‘overwhelmed’ by what happened and lost his job due to the effects of the attack.
Darcy was said to have a number of previous convictions for offences including battery and assaults.
Mitigating, Ben Williams told the court that from an early age Darcy was left with ‘unresolved anger’ due to his life experiences.
He said his client was actively serving in Afghanistan and ‘saw things he shouldn’t have to see’.
“By the time he left the army he was a powder keg”, Mr Williams said.
“He did seek help from the army but he tells me there was very little help and he was told to ‘man up’.
“He tried to self medicate with alcohol and drugs to blackout these things that happened and to try and feel normal.
“We all know that doesn’t work.
“He approached the defendant,something was said and the powder keg exploded.”
Mr Williams said that since the incident, his client has undergone Cognitive Behavioural Therapy’.
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