A thug who smashed his glass in the face of a fellow drinker at a Morden pub has been jailed.

Reece Maclaren, 22, left his victim permanently scarred after the attack at the Beverley pub in Lower Morden Lane.

On Monday at Kingston Crown Court he pleaded guilty to GBH.

The court heard Maclaren was part of a group who attacked two innocent men having a quiet drink in the pub on May 26.

Maclaren smashed his glass into the face of one of the victims, leaving cuts beneath his left eye.

Wounds sustained by the 30-year-old from Surbiton needed emergency surgery in the in aftermath of the assault.

Maclaren, who initially denied the charge but made a last minute guilty plea, admitted he had punched the victim in the face but said he acted in self defence.

He also claimed to have forgotten he was holding a pint glass.

MacLaren, of Montecute Road, Morden, was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment.

Detective Constable Robert Black from Wimbledon CID said: “I am pleased to see justice has been done.

"It was due to the victim's courage in agreeing to pursue this case and attend court that persuaded Maclaren to plead guilty."

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