Perth glassing attacker gets four years

SYDNEY (AAP) - March 18 - A man will spend at least two years in jail for leaving a nighclubber needing 80 stitches and unable to smile after glassing him in the face, severing arteries, veins and nerves.
Bryce Leslie Holden had been out partying with friends for his 21st birthday on August 8 2010.
By 3am (WST), when he struck Sean Christopher Herbert with a glass at the Ambar Nightclub in Perth's CBD, he'd consumed excessive amounts of alcohol as well as some drugs, the Perth District Court was told.
After the attack, Mr Herbert needed about 80 stitches to repair cuts to his face and neck because several veins and arteries had been severed.
He also needed a blood transfusion because he had lost so much blood.
And, he now can't smile properly or move parts of his face after nerves were severed.
Holden, on Friday was sentenced to a maximum of four years and three months' jail after pleading guilty to the vicious and unprovoked attack.
The court heard Holden had been convicted of assaulting another person at a nightclub before his attck on Mr Herbert and had a history of violent behaviour.
Prosecutor Lang Goodsell read Mr Herbert's victim impact statement describing the "serious emotional change" in him since the attack.
"I consider myself lucky that I didn't bleed to death that night," she read.
He was too traumatised to attend the proceedings himself.
Ms Goodsell said Mr Herbert could not move parts of his face or smile properly because some of his facial nerves were severed.
His eyelids droop and his left eye is constantly filled with tears, causing him embarrassment, she said.
Ms Goodsell said Mr Herbert felt "anxious" and "self-conscious" when he went out, was concerned about how people looked at him and was fearful of being randomly attacked again.
"This was an appalling, unprovoked attack that very nearly cost the complainant his life," she said.
Ms Goodsell said there was a "culture" among young people who thought it was acceptable to binge drink and consume drugs without considering the consequences of how they "fry" their brain.
Holden maintained he had no recollection of what happened and was in "denial" for a period of time that he could have committed the offence.
Appearing agitated and nervous during the proceedings, Holden often looked over at his family and friends at the back of the court.
In sentencing, Judge Christopher Stevenson said Holden had attacked his victim "for no apparent reason" and with "force".
"It was a random, senseless act of violence," he said.
Judge Stevenson said that despite Holden's alcohol and drug use that night, it did not excuse his "cowardly" actions.
However, Judge Stevenson said, he accepted that Holden had already taken steps to "reform" himself while in custody by taking anger management classes and other rehabilitation programs.
"There is a genuine desire to reform yourself," he said.
Outside court, Detective Constable Tim Hoey told reporters it was too difficult for Mr Herbert to attend the court proceedings.
"He told me he's pleased with the result, but he's just trying to move on with his life," he said.
"He'll bear the physical and emotional scars for the rest of his days."
Det Const Hoey said he hoped the sentence would act as a deterrent for others.
With parole, Holden could serve just two years and three months in prison.
His sentence has been backdated to his arrest on August 25.