Pool player smashed opponent over the head with a cue at Sutton Fields Pub in east Hull

A POOL player was left pouring with blood after his opponent smashed him over the head with a cue.

Craig Young, 24, attacked Shane McMurray, 32, while they were playing pool in Sutton Fields Pub, in east Hull.

Hull Crown Court heard Young swung his cue at Mr McMurry's head, causing a gash, after a fight broke out among a group of women standing near the table.

Mr McMurray was left pouring with blood and needed ten stitches in his forehead.

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Prosecutor Jharna Jobes told Hull Crown Court: "When it got to the end of the game the complainant was laughing with some females there.

"He took his shot and said to Young 'It's your shot now mate'. The defendant raised his cue over his shoulder and struck him once to the forehead. He fell to the floor and suffered a 4cm wound."

In his victim impact statement, Mr McMurray said he thought he was going to die due to the amount of blood that came from his wound.

He said: "There was no malice between us, everything was jovial and it was unprovoked.

"I have flashbacks about it and feel nervous now. I was terrified when I saw the amount of blood I was losing.

"I was convinced I was going to die. My clothes were saturated in blood."

The attack happened at about 7.45pm on July 30.

Young has now pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

His barrister, John Thackray, said: "This was a disgraceful incident.

"The defendant was under the influence of alcohol and he had mixed it with medication. Of course, that will be no comfort to the complainant.

"These men were playing pool quite politely and four females, two for either side, started fighting. These girls falling out led to the conflict but, nonetheless, it was a disgraceful incident. If he carries on like this he will spend longer and longer in prison."

Young, of Amberley Close, Bransholme, has previous convictions for affray and violence and was jailed in 2009 for two years.

Judge Michael Mettyear has now jailed him for two-and-a-half years.

The judge told him: "You have got a poor record. You have been getting into trouble for the last six years and you are still only 24.

"Looking at your record it seems when you drink too much you get into trouble with violence and that was very much the situation here.

"I accept there was trouble between these women who should be ashamed of themselves for the behaviour they were involved in but that in no way justifies your conduct in picking up a weapon and using it quite deliberately in the way that you did.

"Unless you do sort yourself out you will end up serving a very long sentence. You are wasting your life by continuing to spend periods in prison like this.

"Only prison can be justified for offending like this and it is aggravated by your poor record of drunken behaviour. This was violence in a public place and it must have been distressing for those looking at what was going on."

• Crime news for Hull and East Yorkshire