Man gets six years for taking eye out

A YOUNG man who smashed a glass into a teenager's face – causing him to lose an eye – was jailed for six years today.

A judge told Leo Bonner, 21, that he already had a "depressing record" and was considered likely to offend again.

Victim Gary Montgomery, 19, told an earlier trial how he lost his eye – and his job – because of a row about a giro.

He said he had expected a "square go" with Bonner, his girlfriend's brother.

But as they stepped outside a house in the Gracemount area of Edinburgh to fight, Bonner attacked him from behind with the glass. Surgeons later had to remove Mr Montgomery's right eye and the injury meant he had to give up his job as an apprentice panel beater.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Mr Montgomery was at a friend's house, "having a laugh, having a drink", with a group of pals.

"Leo tried to accuse me of stealing his sister's giro," said Mr Montgomery.

"I told him I never took his sister's giro. He said 'aye you did'. I said 'no I didn't'. He said 'get outside for a square go.'"

Mr Montgomery – who is 5ft 11in tall and weighs 11 stone – said he expected a fight using fists and feet but agreed to go outside with Bonner, even though Bonner was bigger and heavier.

"I wanted to prove my innocence," he told the court.

"When I walked down the stair and went to turn round, Leo stuck a glass in my face."

Mr Montgomery said he did not see the blow coming but felt it and recognised the sleeve of the tracksuit Bonner was wearing.

Bonner, of Captain's Road, Edinburgh, denied the glass attack but did not give evidence.

The jury found him guilty of assaulting Mr Montgomery to his permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment and committing the offence while on bail for an alleged traffic offence.

Bonner, who has 26 previous convictions, including a record for violence, returned to court today to be sentenced.

Judge Roger Craik QC told him: "The offence of which you were found guilty had the grave consequences of the loss of an eye of your victim.

"At 19 years of age that is a great tragedy for him."

The judge also made an order that Bonner should be kept under strict supervision for two years after his sentence.