Woman left scarred for life after suffering facial injuries when pint glass smashed into her face

A woman has been left scarred for left after a thug attacked her with a pint glass in her local pub when she tried to stop him abusing a member of staff. 

Lucy Nobile, 20, suffered horror facial injuries and was nearly killed in the assault at the Hole in the Wall pub in Colchester, Essex.

James Booth, 29, who has been jailed for six years, used the base of the smashed glass to attack the community volunteer, leaving her with an eight inch shard wedged deep into her neck.

Doctors later revealed if the glass had gone just 5mm further, it would have severed her carotid artery and killed her. 

Devastated Lucy, who is partially sighted, also suffered a torn cheek, separated lip, popped blood vessels in her eye, a chipped chin and glass was driven into her nose and mouth. 

Miss Nobile said the attack on September 4 last year was particularly traumatic not only for her, but for her father who was called to the scene and saw her covered in blood.

Miss Nobile, who suffers from degenerative eye condition Stargardt Disease, may now need plastic surgery to repair the damage, and faces a two and a half year waiting list on the NHS. 

Miss Nobile said she now struggles to sleep and is ‘fearful of making contact with people at all’

Lucy Nobile, 20, was left with permanent scarring following the attack last September

Lucy Nobile, 20, was left with permanent scarring following the attack last September 

Miss Nobile may now need plastic surgery to repair the damage done in the attack

Miss Nobile may now need plastic surgery to repair the damage done in the attack  

‘I was just chatting to a friend of mine and the next minute I had glass hanging out of my face,’ she said. 

‘He hit me with a glass but made sure he tipped it upside down so the heavy end connected.

‘At first I didn’t know what was going on because of the adrenaline. It was only when I touched my face and I couldn’t reach my skin because of all the shards of glass that I knew something was wrong.

‘After that I can’t remember much as I passed out due to blood loss and concussed myself by hitting my head off the floor.

‘I had the length of the Fosters glass in my neck – it went in four inches.

‘It was awful as it wasn’t just traumatic to me, someone managed to get hold of my dad and he came to the scene and saw an eight inch shard of glass hanging out of neck and blood spurting in the air.’  

Booth, pictured, had drunk seven pints and two shots, tried to flee the scene but he was restrained by customers until police arrived

Booth, pictured, had drunk seven pints and two shots, tried to flee the scene but he was restrained by customers until police arrived

Doctors later revealed if the glass had gone just 5mm further, it would have severed her carotid artery and killed her

Doctors later revealed if the glass had gone just 5mm further, it would have severed her carotid artery and killed her

She told the court she now struggles to sleep and is ‘fearful of making contact with people at all’, struggling to venture out in public because of the scarring she has been left with.  

‘At first it left me with such hatred and anger towards the world, it was so hard to even comprehend as it happened in my hometown, in my local pub, where I drank,’ Miss Nobile also told the court. 

‘It was such a surprise, I’ve never met this man before in my life.

‘It was just so out of the blue, looking at pictures of it I can’t believe it. One day I was normal and now this.

‘I hope by speaking out that other victims of violence will feel like they are able to go to police.’

Booth, who had drunk seven pints and two shots, tried to flee the scene but he was restrained by customers until police arrived. 

The court heard that the incident last September was distressing for the whole family

The court heard that the incident last September was distressing for the whole family 

Miss Nobile has been left with permanent scarring on her face

Miss Nobile has been left with permanent scarring on her face

Recorder William Clegg QC jailed him down for six years for the attack after he admitted GBH with intent. 

‘To see a scumbag like this rotting away will do all women who have been attacked justice as well,’ Miss Nobile said after Booth was sentenced. 

‘A man like that usually has narcissistic traits, to stand up against him and show him his actions have consequences was important.

‘It was something I wanted to do, it was quite rewarding to be able to sit in front of the judge and have the evidence presented so clearly.

‘It was dealt with perfectly. I don’t think he really showed remorse at all, judging from his actions after the incident.’

Philip Farr, prosecuting, told the court that the whole family have been impacted by the incident. 

‘Typically she was seen as the strong one in the family, so seeing her so badly affected caused a great deal of upset to the rest of the family,’ he said. 

‘Her father attended the pub while she was still there awaiting treatment. The site of his daughter injured in that way caused a great deal of distress to him.

‘Her mother described having to take time off work. 

Shade Abiodun, mitigating said Booth, who had no previous convictions, regretted his actions. 

‘You will see he’s not violent, the offence was and is a one-off incident,’ she said.  

‘He is very sorry for his actions, very remorseful.’