JAILED: Thug who plunged broken bottle into clubber
A teenager fuelled on drink and drugs who plunged a broken bottle into the back of a fellow clubber outside a nightclub has been locked up for 16 months.
Calum Latham, aged 18, launched the savage attack in Walsall shortly after leaving the WS1 club with a group of friends.
The victim was left with a scar measuring between two and three centimetres on his lower back following the assault, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
The court heard that two of Latham's friends had been involved in a dispute with the victim inside the club on June 28 last year.
But the argument, which centred around the victim's previous relationship with the sister of one of the men, spilled out onto the street after the group left WS1 at around 3am.
Miss Sara Pratt, prosecuting, said Latham stepped in when the victim was approached by another man in Bridge Street.
"The defendant moved in and used the bottle to hit the victim in the back, causing a stab wound," added the prosecutor.
The court heard the blow caused the victim to stumble forwards and collapse on the floor.
He was taken to hospital and treated for a laceration to his left lumbar, in a procedure which involved the removal of shards of glass from the wound in his back.
As a result of the attack the victim was left with a visible scar and has suffered flashbacks to the incident.
Latham was arrested on July 7 after he was identified from video footage taken at the scene.
Mr Tarlowchan Dubb, defending, told the court Latham had not been involved in the argument that led to the attack.
"His involvement came later and was born out of a stupid sense of loyalty to the person who started the trouble," he said.
"This was a grotesque offence. I accept that. It was committed while he was under the influence of alcohol and class A drugs.
"It is very difficult to correlate that night to what he is usually like.
"In the time that has passed since the incident he has taken control of his life and sought help for his issues."
Latham, of The Berets, Sutton Coldfield, admitted unlawful wounding. He was given a custodial sentence of 16 months.
Recorder Mr Geoffrey Pryce, said: "There are a number of aggravating features in this case. You smashed a bottle and then stabbed a man with it, and as a result an immediate custodial sentence must be imposed."
