An ‘ashamed’ accountant escaped jail today (Friday

An ‘ashamed’ accountant escaped jail today (Friday) despite delivering a Christmas cracker when he punched a teenager more than half his age during a festive function.

Fueled with free booze at a law firm’s party, the 52-year-old lashed out with a glass still grasped in his hand when he was warned about his ‘abusive and rude’ behaviour.

The festive spirit evaporated when boorish Peter Vickers, said to earn pnds stlng 80,000 a year, suddenly punched 19-year-old Jeff Guidotti – who was trying to warn the accountant over his behaviour.

London’s Southwark Crown Court heard that rather than take ‘sound advice’ and call it a night, Peter Vickers repeatedly punched Geoff Guidotti in the face, leaving his victim covered in blood.

Solicitors ASA Law threw the party at Jamies Wine Bar, in Groveland Court, in the the City on December 7, last year, Vickers was a guest, Mr Guidotti had accompanied his mother.

After a week long trial, Vickers, of Hitchin Road, Letchworth, was found guilty of assaulting the teenager, occasioning actual bodily harm.

However, he was cleared of common assault on Susan Guidotti.

Vickers was fined pnds stlng 500 and ordered to pay pnds stlng 500 in compensation to Mr Guidotti and pnds stlng 1,300 in costs.

The judge, Mr Recorder Michael Soole sentenced Vickers on the basis he deliberately threw a punch ‘and that you had a glass in your hand but you did not intend to use the glass as a weapon.

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The judge said it remained a serious offence and a prison sentence was justified.

‘If I had included you deliberately used the glass there would be an immediate custodial sentence.

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But he told the accountant: ‘This was an episode of which you can only be ashamed.

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He accepted Vickers was a man on good character who had held down ‘a good job for many years’ and people spoke well of him ‘including you behaviour when in drink.

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The judge said the fact that Vickers was a man of means had no bearing on his decision to impose a financial penalty – his victim having undergone ‘a most unpleasant experience’ suffering ‘pain and injury.

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Helen McCormack, prosecuting, had told the court of the party: ‘There was a free bar so people were having quite a lot to drink.

‘Vickers had been invited and was there but became very very drunk during the course of the evening.

Miss McCormack alleged the defendant had joined a group of people ‘chatting’ including mother and son.

‘It became instantly clear he was very very drunk.

He became quite abusive and rude.

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he continued to be abusive and said something to Susan Guidotti.

‘At that point Jeff, who was on the edges of what happened, went up and said to Vickers that he had been rude to his mother and thought he should not have anything more to drink and it was better to go home.

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The barrister said rather than take such advice, Vickers, still with a glass in his hand, assaulted Mr Guidotti ‘and began punching him in the face with the hand holding the glass until the glass smashed.

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She said it was fortunate that the younger man was not more seriously hurt, despite suffering a cut to his cheek and neck.

Both men began struggling and toppled down a small flight of stairs as other guests tried to break up the disturbance, Susan Guidotti being punched on the arm, leaving a large bruise.

Once parted, she said Vickers left and police were called – at the same time the defendant was making a complaint to police at nearby Cannon Street that he had been attacked.

Miss McCormack said Vickers admitted he had ‘a lot to drink’ but was assaulted ‘suddenly’ from behind.

Jeff Guidotti described his attacker as being ‘not too comfortable on his feet’, adding that the defendant appeared to need to lean on the bar for support, looked ‘wobbly’ and was slurring.

He said he was asked by the party’s organiser to invite Vickers to leave after a series of ‘abrupt’ remarks.

‘I told Vickers it was time to leave and there were no more drinks,’ he told the jury.

‘I believe he said ”I am not ready to leave”.

‘He said ”You are beginning to piss me off’.

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The witness described he was quickly punched ‘four or five times’ in the face, before being grabbed by Vickers in a headlock and repeatedly punched again.

‘As he punched me I heard the sound of breaking glass and realised he was punching me with a glass in his fist.

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He said they fell to the floor as they grappled with each other and fell down the stairs.

‘He was still angry and still trying to hit me.

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As they were parted, he said Vickers continued to ‘thrash about’ and hit is mother on the arm – and possibly another woman in the face.

ends