A GLOUCESTER man, who sparked off a lifetime of pain for a

teenager after he threw a pool ball at her, had his sentence

deferred for six months.

David Davies, 23, of Druids Oak, Quedgeley, was convicted at

Gloucester Magistrates Court in April of inflicting grievous

bodily harm on Katie Davis and appeared at the city's crown

court for sentence.

Prosecutor Julian Kesner said the 17-year-old victim had

been setting up for a game of pool at Westgate Pool Centre on

January 27 when she was hit in the mouth by the ball.

“She didn't see where it came from, but it must have been

thrown with considerable force because, having bounced off his

table, it travelled across her table and hit her in the

mouth.”

This caused a range of injuries - including splitting Ms

Davis' upper lip from the outside to the inside - knocking out

a tooth and chipping five more.

The roots to her teeth had also been fractured and some

required removal. She needed 24 stitches to her lip and

gums.

Davies, also known as Fat Sam, had apologised to his victim

before leaving the club, Mr Kesner said.

In a statement read to the court, Ms Davis said the incident

had changed her life.

“I used to be a confident and outgoing girl but now I'm

really shy,” she said. “I don't want people to look at me

because of my injury.”

She now tries to cover her mouth with her hand to hide the

prominent lump left by her injury.

Wendy Kingsbury, defending, said her client had changed his

drinking habits, although it was not known if alcohol had been

involved on January 27.

He was also working with the probation service to conquer

his domestic violence problem.

Judge Mark Horton described Davies' crime as one of violent

recklessness.

The judge ordered Davies to adhere to a curfew during the

six months of deferral between 9pm until 4am. He also warned

Davies to begin saving to pay compensation to his victim,

adding that compensation in cases of such injury often exceeded

£5,000.