A VICTIM of a savage bottling which left him with only limited use of his right arm has spoken out about the punishment received by his attacker.

Tom Potter

A VICTIM of a savage bottling which left him with only limited use of his right arm has spoken out about the punishment received by his attacker.

Jamie Dyer, of Cedarcroft Road, Ipswich, will live out the rest of his life without the full use of his damaged arm after being viciously stabbed with the broken bottle.

The 22-year-old required nearly six hours of treatment at Ipswich Hospital and plastic surgery following the attack at the Stoke Bridge skate park on July 18 last year.

Mr Dyer's attacker, 18-year-old Marcus Mayhew, was sentenced to three years in a young offenders' institution for grievous bodily harm with intent when he appeared at Ipswich Crown Court.

Mr Dyer, an insurance consultant, said: “I'm not happy with the outcome. People who go around stabbing other people should get longer than three years in prison.

“He has affected my life for the last year and I've changed how I plan evenings out. I've cleared my head over the last couple of months but it's taken such a long time.”

Mayhew was already serving 12 months in prison for burglary when he was sentenced on Thursday.

The court heard how Mr Dyer was skateboarding with friends when he noticed a pair of French students being subjected to unpleasant remarks by another group, which included Mayhew.

When Mr Dyer suggested the students join him and his friends, two members of the abusive group approached him.

Mayhew carried a bottle of beer and threatened to stab him. When a scuffle broke out, Mayhew broke the bottle over Mr Dyer's head and lunged at him with the jagged neck.

Mr Dyer was stabbed several times in the face and arms. He was left with both arms in splints and needing eight weeks off work.

Mayhew, who had a string of previous convictions, admitted his guilt on the first day of his trial on June 12.

Neil Macauley, representing Mayhew, said: “For such a young man, Mr Mayhew has a quite frankly appalling record and this offence stands out as the most serious.

“However it is difficult to see how he could have done more to improve his chances of a successful rehabilitation during his time in prison. He has earned certificates, improved his skills in writing and has produced a CV.”

In sentencing Mayhew, Judge Peter Thompson said: “This was a violent attack with a bottle which you smashed on the head of a victim who was behaving responsibly.

“Unlike you, he is a hard working man and you caused him extreme pain and long term damage.”