A GRIEVING son who hit a friend in the face with a glass on the day of his father's funeral has been given a suspended prison sentence.

A court heard that Nicholas Chapman had to have lacerations to his right eye stitched and still had small glass particles trapped in his cornea following the attack in February.

Bradford Crown Court heard that the plasterer suffered "distorted vision", but it improved after the removal of the stitches.

Prosecutor Louise Pryke said Mr Chapman also suffered a deep cut over his left left eyebrow.

His attacker Daniel Debiasio, 34, was sentenced to nine months in jail, suspended for a year, and ordered to pay Mr Chapman compensation of £750.

Judge David Hatton QC, who also ordered Debiasio to do 200 hours unpaid work for the community, conceded that the amount of compensation was not as much as Mr Chapman probably deserved or he would have liked to impose, but he had to take account of the defendant's means.

Debiasio, of Skinner Lane, Leeds, pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful wounding and the court heard that he immediately said he was sorry for hitting Mr Chapman.

The friends had been at the funeral of Debiasio's father and had the returned to his family home in Ilkley for the wake.

Miss Pryke said that Debiasio asked Mr Chapman to leave the house at about 10pm and physically ushered him outside.

As he was pushing Mr Chapman down the driveway the complainant suddenly felt a sharp pain and realised he was bleeding heavily.

Although Mr Chapman started to walk home Debiasio and another friend approached him and the defendant said:"I'm sorry. I'm your friend. I don't know why I did that."

Members of Debiasio's family helped to take Mr Chapman back to their house until the ambulance and police arrived.

Solicitor advocate John Bottomley, for Debiasio, said emotions were understandably running high on the day of the funeral and Mr Chapman was asked to leave over an alleged incident involving the defendant's partner.

He said Debiasio was highly emotional at the police station and extremely remorseful.

Mr Bottomley said the two men had known each other for 13 years and his client had lost a good friend through his actions.

Judge Hatton said Debiasio had struck his friend while holding a glass and serious injury had been caused to him.

"He could have lost his eye," noted the judge.

"Happily the injury was not as grave as it might have been although significant it remains and it has had a significant effect upon him and may continue to do so.

"But I am satisfied that you were immediately remorseful. It's clear from the evidence that you were and rendered such assistance as you could in the immediate aftermath of the event and accepted your responsibility and guilt at the first available opportunity.

"You have not been in trouble for many years and your conduct to that extent can be said to be out of character fuelled no doubt by drink and other emotions.

"I do not consider that anyone would be served by imposing upon you an immediate sentence of imprisonment."

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