A MAN was so angered about a girl being badly hurt when a glass beer bottle was thrown through the window of her grandmother’s car he set out to raise money to put the smile back on her face.

John Drummond presented £218 to a delighted Abbie Keers at a meeting of the Stanley Positive Action Group (Spag) at the Tommy Armstrong Centre in, Stanley, County Durham.

The nine-year-old, from Stanley, was nearly blinded when a bottle was thrown at her grandmother’s car as she travelled in the passenger seat about a month ago.

Abbey suffered cuts to her nose and above her eye and needed plastic surgery to remove the glass from her face.

Mr Drummond said: “I was really angry when I saw the picture taken of Abbie after the incident - to think that anyone could do anything like that.

“I was upset too and thought I would do something to cheer her up and put a smile back on her face.”

Donations were handed in at the Tommy Armstrong Centre and Mr Drummond raised more through his travels as a service technician for Tesco.

He said “When I showed people the picture they were also angry. They gave donations from 50p to a pound and more. Members of Spag, of which I am a member, also contributed.”

An overwhelmed Abbie, who was also given two books, said: “Thank you. It’s really kind.”

Sergeant Dave Clarke, of Stanley Police, said: “What he has done is great. It’s important for Abbie to realise there are people who care. It’s nice to see the smile on her face."

  • A 23-year-old man from the area has been arrested in connection with the incident and bailed pending further inquiries.