Whalley clubber left scarred after glassing (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Whalley clubber left scarred after glassing

11:00am Monday 17th September 2012 in News

A CLUBBER left scarred for life after being hit in the face with a glass has warned partygoers of the devastating consequences of alcohol-fuelled violence.

Designated driver Daniel Grayston was enjoying a night out with friends at Whalley nightclub Rendezvous, when a glass thrown from across the dance floor hit him on the face, narrowly missing his left eye.

The 25-year-old, who had not been drinking, said he instantly experienced the ‘worst pain he had ever felt’ and was lucky not to lose his eye.

Mr Grayston spoke out after his attacker 20-year-old Daniel James Ormerod pleaded guilty to wounding at Preston Crown Court.

And his call has been supported by Dave Rogers, whose 24-year-old son Adam was killed by a single punch while trying to stop a fight in Blackburn town centre, who said violence was never acceptable Mr Grayston said: “I just want my attacker to realise how much one stupid drunken act can affect someone’s life.”

“I was just dancing when I felt this horrific pain. As I looked across the dance floor I heard a loud scream as the girl next to me spotted my face.

“I knew I had been hit with a pint glass as it had shattered on impact and some of it had got into my mouth.

“Blood was pouring down my face and my left eye had completely closed. To be honest at that moment I thought I’d lost my eye, the pain was that bad.”

Mr Grayston, of Queen Mary Terrace, Whalley was not the intended target of the glassing, police said.

A scuffle broke out on the dance floor around five metres away from Mr Grayston and his friends.

The club’s security staff spotted the trouble immediately and separated two men arguing between themselves.

As they were led away in separate directions, Ormerod turned around and threw his pint glass, police said.

The glass missed the intended target, instead hitting innocent bystander Mr Grayston.

Left with a deep wound to his cheek, deep cuts to his lip, as well as deep bruising, the fire and security engineer, was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital after receiving emergency first aid by doormen at the club.

Security staff also performed a citizens arrest and detained the attacker until police arrived.

Mr Grayston needed 21 stitches to close the wounds he had received.

He said: “I was completely sober. I had a job interview the next day and so I decided to drive.

“For no fault of my own I now have a permanent scar on my face.

“I cannot thank the staff at Rendezvous enough. Very quickly they came to my aid and helped look after to me until the emergency services arrived.

“I still go out but I am definitely more cautious now. If someone innocently drops a glass near me the noise still makes me a nervous wreck.”

Mr Rogers and his wife Pat launched ‘Every Action has a Consequence’ campaign with the lancashire Telegraph after the death of their son Adam.

He said: “It really is true every action has a consequence.

“Alcohol makes us act differently and needs to taken responsibly.Throwing a glass on a dance floor can have catastrophic consequences for the victim.”

Rendezvous nightclub manager Jonny Crompton said incidents such as this were a rare occurrence at his club.

He said: “The victim had immediate first aid by a highly qualified professional so much so the paramedics were able to take Daniel straight to hospital without any further attention.

“The culprit was restrained immediately and handed over to police with a copy of the CCTV on a DVD and statements from club staff on the night.

“Daniel Ormerod was then given a life ban from the club and placed on pub watch scheme which sees him barred from all other pubs and clubs in Whalley.”

Elaine Smalley, from Ribble Valley CID, who lead the investigation, said: “This attack was a extremely nasty and easily could have had far worse consequences for Daniel.

“His scar has healed but it is still visible. Every time he looks in the mirror he will be reminded of this incident and will inevitably knock his confidence.”

Ormerod, of Amberwood Drive, Blackburn will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on October 11.