The victim was left with “significant” injuries, needing 10 stitches
What started as a harmless prank soon turned to violence, leaving a man requiring ‘plastic surgery’, after a woman on a hen party drove a glass into a man’s face.
Donna Stalker, an NHS employee, and friends had been drinking in a popular Tynemouth pub before approaching the victim, who was with friends. What began as a “light‑hearted interaction” left the victim with serious facial injuries, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
CCTV footage taken from the Head of Steam on the night of July 13, 2024, was shown in court, depicting the victim gently tapping Stalker several times on the back and head with the inflatable club. Then, “without warning,” the 34-year-old woman turned and struck him in the face with a glass, which shattered on impact, ChronicleLive reports.
Mairi Clancy, prosecuting, revealed the victim was left with “significant” injuries – a deep laceration to his chin, which required ten stitches, wounds to his nose, which had to be glued, and lip injuries which required a referral to the plastic surgery department.
“I’m an extremely active, sporty person and take part in boxing and football, but I’m no longer able to do that until my injuries have healed,” the man said in a victim impact statement taken not long after the incident.
It “could take six months” for his physical injuries to heal, he disclosed, while admitting his mental health had also been deeply affected by the incident.
“I don’t like how I look at the minute. I constantly have people asking what happened to my face. I don’t know if it will ever heal,” the court heard.
“I’m not able to box any time soon in case my scars split open. I had to withdraw from a fight which more than 30 people bought tickets for. Sport is my livelihood, and not being able to take part has been extremely upsetting.”
The attack had also left the man reluctant to attend any venues or settings with lots of people and glasses, in fear of a repeat assault from a stranger.
“I didn’t do anything to deserve having a glass smashed across my face,” he continued, citing fears of how the injuries could have been significantly worse if the glass had cut his eyes or throat.
“If she didn’t like something, she could’ve asked me to stop doing it, and I would have. I can’t believe someone would do something like this and not realise the consequences it could have on my life.”
Stalker, of Harrier Court, Fife, Dunfermline, Scotland, admitted she did not recognise the seriousness of the man’s injuries at first. She had left the Head of Steam pub shortly after the incident took place, only handing herself in to the police after seeing an appeal on social media.
She told officers that she had only intended to pour a drink on him, something prosecutors rejected. The 34-year-old, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding.
A 10-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, was given to Stalker, who was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and must pay the victim £1,000 in compensation.
“You were at a hen party in this area about 18 months ago in a local bar when you were clearly irritated by what was only ever intended to be playful behaviour by the victim,” Judge Tom Moran told her. “He had an inflatable golfclub and was tapping it harmlessly on your back and head a number of times.
“That obviously irritated you, and rather than dealing with it in a different way, you then turned and lashed out when you still had the glass in your hand.
“I sentence you on the basis you didn’t intend to cause an injury anything remotely like this, and you didn’t realise, at the time, you had done that. This case just goes to show the dangers of committing any violence involving a glass.”
Brian Hegarty, defending, said Stalker had only learned the extent of the man’s injuries after handing herself in.
“Since then, these proceedings have weighed heavily upon her,” Mr Hegarty told Newcastle Crown Court. “She found it difficult to come to terms with the fact she caused the level of injury she had. Her employment revolves around helping others, not harming others.”
“She accepts she lashed out in temper,” Mr Hegarty continued, adding only the initial blow caused the injury, following which she “half pushed towards him”.
“She now feels a deep sense of shame as a consequence of her actions on that day.” The court heard Stalker has shared care for her three children, has had some mental health issues and works part-time in the NHS.
