Thug who glassed man in Coventry city centre pub in mistaken 'girlfriend' row is jailed - The Coventry Observer

Thug who glassed man in Coventry city centre pub in mistaken 'girlfriend' row is jailed

Coventry Editorial 25th Oct, 2018 Updated: 25th Oct, 2018   0

A MAN who hurled a beer glass into the face of another drinker at a Coventry pub has been jailed after a judge rejected his claim that he had reacted out of fear for his safety.

The judge at Warwick Crown Court told hot-tempered Michael Ison that he was sure he had thrown the glass into his victim’s face ‘without justification.’

Ison (31) of Lower Ford Street, Coventry, who had denied assaulting Scott Lawrence causing him actual bodily harm, but later changed his plea to guilty, was jailed for two years.

The incident took place at the Oak Inn in Gosford Street, Coventry, in July last year, and Ison entered his plea on a basis that he feared he was about to be attacked by other customers.




During a ‘trial of issue’ prosecutor Dean Easthope said Mr Lawrence and a friend, William Brock, were playing pool in the pub.

Mr Brock’s girlfriend arrived at around 2am to pick them up after finishing work, and as she sat on a sofa while they continued playing, Ison began talking to her.


In a joking reference to her work clothes of white shirt and black skirt, he asked her: “Isn’t it too late for you to be out on a school night?”

When Mr Lawrence then went over and sat down, Ison told him: “Don’t worry, I’m not chatting up your bird.”

Mr Lawrence told the court: “I was confused. She’s not my girlfriend, and I just said ‘What?’ because I didn’t know what he meant.

“He said ‘Am I a ********?’ I was confused, and I said ‘What are you going on about?’

“He just stood up, and I told him he didn’t intimidate me, and then I stood up as well. Nothing else is said, and he just throws a glass at my face.”

Mr Lawrence said the glass broke and caused a cut above his left eye, which has left a scar, and he has been told there is still a 3mm piece of glass in his head, but that it will not be removed unless it causes him any problems.

Andrew Herd, defending, put to him that during the incident someone had said ‘Get him outside, do him,’ and that it was then that Ison threw the glass. But Mr Lawrence replied: “I don’t believe that’s true.”

Giving evidence, Ison, a JCB digger driver, said he had wanted a game of pool, and was told by Mr Lawrence: “You ain’t playing. Get lost.”

So he went over and spoke to Mr Brock’s girlfriend, and Mr Lawrence said: “What the f*** are you doing talking to my girlfriend?”. He alleged Mr Lawrence pushed him, and he was then surrounded.

But rejecting Ison’s account, Deputy Judge Richard Griffith-Jones said: “I am quite sure that what Mr Lawrence told me is the truth. This was an unprovoked attack.

“… Offences where glasses are used risk very serious damage. You can blind someone.”

The court then heard Ison had previous convictions for violence, and was subject to both a suspended sentence and a community order at the time.

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