A MAN who threw a glass at a teenager in a Chester bar, breaking her front teeth, has been spared an immediate jail sentence.

Ryan Kevin Salisbury, 31, of Lancaster Drive, Great Boughton, had earlier pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to assault causing actual bodily harm.

Appearing at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, February 10, Salisbury was told by Honorary recorder of Chester the incident was "so unimpressive on so many levels", but handed the defendant a suspended four-month prison sentence

Prosecuting, Paulinus Barnes said the attack happened at The Guild, Watergate Street, on the night of July 19, 2020.

The victim, an 18-year-old sixth-form student, had been out with her cousin and was sat at a table with others, including Salisbury.

CCTV footage at the bar showed the conversation was going well, with people on the table laughing.

But then, Mr Barnes said, Salisbury called the victim "a cheeky c***", to which she took offence and lightly slapped him.

Mr Barnes said: "He then picked up a glass and threw it at her."

Salisbury left the bar, while the victim realised something was wrong and, upon checking her mouth on her camera phone, realised her two front teeth were chipped.

When arrested, Salisbury said he did not recall the conversation leading up to the assault, and had been trying to throw the liquid in the glass at the teenager, instead of the glass.

He added he had not intended to hurt her and offered to pay for her dental treatment.

The victim was left with swollen lips, bruising around the mouth and fractures to her front teeth which a dentist repaired using a composite filling.

While she did not have to pay for the treatment, as she was a student, Judge Everett said she should be compensated for her pain and suffering, and the possibility of further dental treatment.

In a victim impact statement, she said she felt unable to go back to the bar, was anxious with a group of people and felt unsafe to go out.

Salisbury had one previous conviction for criminal damage and assaulting a police officer in 2014, and failing to comply with the subsequent community order.

Defending, Maria Masselis said Salisbury had struggled with his own behaviour that night, and was "rightly" deeply ashamed and remorseful.

The defendant had "had a good upbringing" and was "demonstrably a good man", being a good husband, father and son.

Judge Everett remarked: "I think he needs to ask himself what he was doing in a bar chatting to young women."

Ms Masselis added the slap was not a trigger, if not an excuse, for Salisbury's action, and he was "highly unlikely" to come back before the court again.

Judge Everett told Salisbury: "You were all laughing literally a split second before this.

"If you called her 'a cheeky c***', that is just disgusting, there is no excuse for that. She was perfectly entitled to take issue with that.

"You completely overreacted. What you intended to do was throw a drink but the glass left your hand and hit her face.

"You are out drinking far too heavily. What, in any way, did you think it would be a good idea for you to be chatting up youngsters? Those are not the actions of a decent family man.

"It was disgraceful on this night; nothing more, nothing less.

"Had you deliberately thrown the glass in her face, you would be going to prison for some time."

Judge Everett added the "excellent" references made for Salisbury, and the fact prison conditions are currently tougher during the Covid pandemic, had come to the defendant's assistance and he would not go to prison immediately.

He was handed a four-month suspended prison term, and must complete 100 hours unpaid work.

He must also pay £750 compensation to the victim, plus a victim surcharge.