Anger as drunk who smashed bottle in dancer’s face escapes jail

Chloe Knapton can no longer smile properly after drunken Andrew Shires smashed a bottle into the side window, shattering glass in her face, neck, throat, shoulder and breaking a tooth.

A deep cut under the right side of her nose has caused such severe nerve damage to her upper lip that her smile is now lop-sided.

She was told by doctors that two pieces of glass embedded in her throat were six millimetres away from causing her life-threatening injuries.

The 21-year-old dancer was in Leeds Crown Court yesterday to hear Recorder Peter Babb hand her 37-year-old attacker a one-year jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, for grievous bodily harm.

Speaking after the hearing, Miss Knapton said: “I expected he would get around three years for what he did to me. Instead he is made out to be the victim. I am disgusted.”

Nigel Wray, prosecuting, told the court how Shires had bought three bottles of tequila in Holmfirth on the afternoon of April 16, and posted a picture of the alcohol on Facebook with the status: “I’m going to cause some trouble.”

Miss Knapton and her friend Sophie Leroy were driving around together in separate cars at around 11pm after a night out when they came across a bike which appeared to be left abandoned at the side of the road.

Miss Leroy got out of her car to approach the bike to play on it, when Shires picked up an empty bottle from a bin near the bus shelter where he was sitting across the road, and shouted: “Oy, leave my bike alone.”

He then ran at the horrified women and smashed Miss Knapton’s window, even though she had not said a word and was still sitting in her car.

Miss Knapton, from Holmfirth, could not speak to police after the attack as glass was stuck in her wounds.

Shires rode away from the scene after the incident and dumped his bike in a river.

He posted on Facebook: “Just put through two girls’ car windows as they were trying to steal my bike while at the bus stop. It’s bad.”

Shires admitted the offence when he was arrested two days later, saying he reacted as he did because he thought the two women were going to steal his bike.

Anastasis Tassou, for Shires, said: “Had she not decided to drive past the bike on more than one occasion and ‘mess with’ the bike then this need never have happened.

“The defendant is extremely remorseful. He said it was my own actions, there was no-one there making me do it. I will accept whatever consequences, I would accept my punishment.

“As you can see he has come to court with a bag and perhaps that is what the public would demand.

“It’s always more emotive when someone who has suffered these injuries is an attractive young lady.

“It is someone who has stayed out of trouble for 14 years. Someone who could perhaps be understood to feel feeling of provocation, it is not just a random act.”

Sentencing Shires to a suspended jail term and 200 hours of unpaid community work, Recorder Babb said: “I take the view that in the context of GBH this

is not an exceptionally serious case.

“Clearly there was provocation, however, unintended.”

Shires was also ordered to pay a £900 courts charge.

Following the hearing Shires said he was lucky to be a free man.

Speaking as he left court, he told reporters: “It was a reckless mistake. I feel bad for her.

“I was drunk and overreacted. I’m very lucky to be a free man. I’m now going to try and do something with my life.”

But Miss Knapton said: “My dream to be a dancer on cruise ships is now ruined. It is a fickle industry I work in where looks are very important.”