A BUSINESSMAN glassed a man in a crowded pub with what his own barrister described as a “coward’s blow”.

The victim had his back turned when he was hit in the head by Robert Bolam, causing a six inch long laceration to his right temple which required 11 wound staples in hospital, prosecutor Harry Hadfield said.

CCTV footage of the glassing in the early hours of April 28 last year at the Traders pub, in Stockton, was played at Teesside Crown Court with the judge, Recorder David Gordon describing it as a “disgraceful, shocking” incident.

Bolam, 38, of Hallifield Street, Stockton, at first claimed he only punched the victim, but admitted a wounding offence on the day of his trial.

Both men were out socialising and described as former friends who had fallen out in a dispute over the victim’s son, previously employed by Bolam.

In a statement the victim described suffering headaches and neck pain and losing pay as a result of being off work sick.

Robert Mochrie, mitigating, said: “This was something of a cowardly blow. The defendant is seen to make off immediately and make good his escape.”

Mr Mochrie said the attack was out of character for someone with no previous convictions and a “one off” which would not be repeated.

Recorder Gordon said sending Bolam immediately to prison would impose a significant burden on the public purse and a more constructive alternative was a suspended jail sentence with unpaid work.

He passed a 20 month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered Bolam to do 180 hours unpaid work.

The judge said Bolam would pay £750 compensation and be subject to a five year restraining order.