Man jailed over city centre street attack

A man who hit an acquaintance in the head with a glass bottle in Nottingham city centre has been jailed for 20 months.

Nottinghamshire Police said Benjamin Mitchell attacked his victim in Old Market Square at about 17:20 BST on 20 May, sparking a "wider altercation".

The 33-year-old, of Washington Court in Arnold, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and perverting the course of justice.

He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, and as well as his custodial sentence will also be subject to a two-year restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim.

Police said officers responding to a 999 call found the victim "falling in and out of consciousness having suffered a seizure".

He was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre and treated for three cracked ribs and a large cut to the head that required eight stitches.

The force then received a tip-off that the assailant went by the nickname Scarface, after which Mitchell was arrested.

While in custody, officers advised the defendant his T-shirt matched one seen in CCTV footage of the attack, and when they left the room Mitchell attempted to flush it down the toilet, causing a blockage.

Det Con Michael Love said the defendant, who had served three previous jail terms for violent offences, "displayed appalling violence" during a "disgraceful assault that took place in broad daylight in a busy part of the city".

"Even in custody, Mitchell did what he could in a desperate attempt to derail the investigation," he said.

"He has shown no remorse for his actions and fully deserves to be back behind bars."

Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.