CCTV of the incident showed they were ‘clearly both intoxicated’ and could ‘barely stand-up’
Two shoplifters turned on each other and fought in the street when one of them slashed the other in the neck with glass from a stolen broken bottle. The violence was captured on CCTV and went on for around five minutes as the intoxicated pair exchanged blows, then made up but returned to fighting each other in broad daylight, a court heard.
The violence flared on Spring Bank, Hull at around midday on August 23 this year. Towson Smith, 28, of no fixed address, admitted unlawfully wounding the other man.
Ben Hammersley, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that the two men were seeking to score drugs and went on a shoplifting spree to get money for drugs. They visited the One Stop store on Spring Bank.
CCTV of the wounding was shown in court. The pair engaged in blows and the bag of stolen items was dropped, smashing a bottle inside.
Smith picked up a bit of the broken glass and lunged at the other man, slashing him. Members of the public and motorists continued to walk by the two men as the violence flared repeatedly.
Smith slashed the other man in the neck and head area. A member of the public rang 999 and an ambulance attended. The victim was taken to hospital and he was treated for the cuts to his neck and shoulder.
He was now “constantly paranoid” and said that his friend had “crossed the line.” He added: “I nearly died.”
After viewing the CCTV, Recorder Brian Whitehead said: “They are clearly both intoxicated and can barely stand-up.” Smith had convictions for 61 previous offences.
Molly Minter, mitigating, said: “He feels sorry. He knows his behaviour is unacceptable. He had no accommodation at the time. He recognises he must change.”
Recorder Whitehead said it was fortunate that there was no long-term harm caused. “Wounds to the neck can prove fatal,” he said. “Thank goodness it did not hit an artery.”
The victim had started it after they “fell out for some reason.” Smith was jailed for one year.