New dad jailed after throwing pint glass at barman, scarring his face

A NEW father who scarred a barman’s face by drunkenly hurling a pint glass at him from close range has been jailed for 12 months.

Elliot Tibbit threw the glass at Gavin Hart, who was working behind the bar at The Old Mill Inn in Holbury one night in August last year, Southampton Crown Court heard.

Mr Hart was rushed to hospital, prosecutor Tim Devlin said, where he received stitches to a cut above his eyebrow, which caused scarring.

The victim told the court the visible injuries had affected him doing his other job as an Apple technician.

Tibbit (29), from Pennington, was out that night celebrating as a friend had also just become a new father, the court heard, and he had consumed a large amount of alcohol.

The trouble flared after Tibbit approached Luke Bentley in the garden area and asked to use his vaping tool but was refused, Mr Devlin said.

Tibbit headbutted Mr Bentley, the prosecutor said, which prompted door supervisor Elliott Smith to intervene and order Tibbit to leave.

However, the defendant did not and ended up holding an empty pint glass in the bar area where he became “abusive and aggressive” to Mr Hart.

“Gavin Hart was working behind the bar and told him to put the glass down and leave,” Mr Devlin said. “But he became more aggressive and threatening, and said he would give Mr Hart the glass, but then threw it.”

The prosecutor told the court Tibbit had a number of convictions, the most recent being a drug-driving charge in September. Older, expired convictions included battery offences.

Tibbit, of Sway Road, admitted at an earlier hearing charges of unlawful wounding on a certain basis and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Defending, Chris Gaiger conceded they were “serious offences” and his client “acted recklessly” on the night in question, although he stressed it was out of character for Tibbit.

In an interview with probation, Tibbit said his behaviour amounted to him “being an arse”, Mr Gaiger revealed, adding: “It’s probably the best way of describing how he was that evening.”

Mr Gaiger sought to persuade Judge Rowland against sending down Tibbit, who suffers with ADHD and depression, explaining the defendant’s partner gave birth to their first child in April.

Becoming a father had given Tibbit purpose in his life and a will to address his problems.

His mother and partner were also supportive, his previous offending was some time ago, and there was a “real prospect” of rehabilitation. Mr Gaiger urged Judge Rowland to “show compassion”.

Judge Rowland sentenced Tibbit to a year in jail, adding that Mr Hart was “fortunate not to lose an eye” in the attack.