A LABOURER who glassed a man in a pub told police: I wanted to hurt him, a court heard. Thomas Watson, 21 was drinking in The Old Post Office in Royston on November 25 last year, when there was a verbal exchange with Paul Hussey. Ann Evans, prosecuting

A LABOURER who glassed a man in a pub told police: "I wanted to hurt him," a court heard.

Thomas Watson, 21 was drinking in The Old Post Office in Royston on November 25 last year, when there was a verbal exchange with Paul Hussey.

Ann Evans, prosecuting at Luton Crown Court, said Paul's brother Lennie intervened saying: "Come on mates, let's calm things down."

When Watson asked: "What's it got to do with you, is he your mate or something?" Lennie replied: "He's not my mate. He's my brother."

Then he was unexpectedly glassed on the side of his face, said Mrs Evans.

But the court heard that despite the attack, Mr Hussey went on to two other pubs before going to hospital, where two small pieces of glass were removed from his eye.

There were also six scarred areas, but Mrs Evans said: "Although the injuries were unpleasant, they were not extensive."

Watson was arrested five days later and made an "absolutely full and frank admission," said Mrs Evans.

He told police: "I wanted to hurt him."

His barrister Harry Oliver said Watson was being treated for panic attacks at the time, which triggered his reaction when he felt he was being surrounded by friends of the Hussey brothers.

He said the start of the incident was that he accidentally bumped into Paul Hussey and apologised, but the intervention of Lennie changed the situation.

"He reacted in the way he did, but it was an over-estimation of the danger he was in. His extreme honesty when interviewed by police is an unusual feature," said Mr Oliver.

Watson, of Field Crescent, Royston, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He was jailed for two years and six months.

Recorder David Altaras told him: "This was a wholly unprovoked attack and completely out of the blue.

"Mercifully, the injuries are not as serious as some of those caused by glassing, but we don't know the extent or permanency of the scarring.

"Your frankness with police and remorse reduces what would otherwise be a long custodial sentence.