A violent football fan who viciously glassed a min

A violent football fan who viciously glassed a minicab driver
outside a pub has been caged for three years.

At the time of the attack Liverpool supporter Sean McDonald, 30,
was with a coach load of fellow fans who had travelled to London to
watch the FA Cup semi-final against Portsmouth.

A jury convicted jobless father of one McDonald of wounding with
intent to cause grievous bodily harm during the evening of April 4
this year – the night before the match.

Jobless McDonald, of Marlborough Road, the Brook, Liverpool, had
denied the charge.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard how during the evening of April 4
he had been drinking with Liverpool supporters in the ‘Fairways’ pub
in Walthamstow.

At closing time McDonald decided to sit in a minicab but was told
to get out by driver Joseph Mensah who had been called to pick up a
fare.

But the drunken football yob became aggressive as Mr Mensah, 46,
persisted in trying to remove him from the car.

He then took a glass from
one of his pals.

During a struggle McDonald smashed the glass repeatedly into the
face of the victim before he was pulled off, the court was told.

Mr Mensah was taken to hospital with blood pouring from facial
wounds and later needed 18 stitches.

Police later arrested McDonald who denied being responsible for
the attack.

Jailing him for three years Judge John Hicks, QC, said:
‘You have been convicted of a wounding commonly known as
glassing.

‘
Judge Hicks had taken into account the fact that although
McDonald had a string of previous convictions for dishonesty, this
was the first time he faced the court for an offence of serious
violence.

Mr David Wolchover, defending McDonald, said: ‘It was fortunate
that Mr Mensah’s injuries were not any more extensive.

‘
The court was told that Mr Mensah has made a claim from the
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

ENDS