A BREWERY employee with a drink problem has been jailed for using a glass to carry out an unprovoked pub attack.

Russell Claydon

A BREWERY employee with a drink problem has been jailed for using a glass to carry out an unprovoked pub attack.

Timothy Wolstenholme, 28, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday for the incident at the Minden Rose pub in Bury St Edmunds in July.

The court heard how Keshmar Jairam and Julie Lurway had been enjoying a drink when Wolstenholme, of Boby Road, Bury approached them.

Adele Cook, for the prosecution, said he came up to them and made a gun symbol with his hand against the side of Mr Jairam's head.

He then went away and came back with a glass and smashed it across his head, causing several injuries across his forehead, wrist and cheek.

When interviewed by police Wolstenholme, who worked as a mechanical engineer for Greene King, said he had consumed “around 15 pints” that day and could not remember the incident.

Wolstenholme pleaded guilty in court to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Judge John Devaux, sentencing him to a year in jail, to be reduced on good behaviour, said: “You had been drinking very heavily all day and the victim had done nothing to warrant your attention or irritate you in any way.”

The court heard how Wolstenholme's attack had left the victim needing counselling and had possibly cost him a promotion at work.

Kevin McCarthy, for the defence, said his client, who had previously had to borrow money to finance his problem, had not touched drink since the incident.

He added he was very ashamed of his actions and had written to Mr Jairam to apologise.