A thug launched an unprovoked attack on a man by smashing a beer glass in his face.
Cocaine and alcohol-fuelled Robert Eaton assaulted the victim outside the Prenton Park pub in Tranmere, Wirral, in the early hours of Sunday, May 1, this year.
Today Eaton, of Woodchurch Road, Oxton, appeared in court by videolink for sentencing after pleading guilty to a charge of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.
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Liverpool Crown Court heard that his 18-year-old victim was enjoying a quiet drink with family and friends at the time of the incident. He was transitioning from male to female and this was the first time he had ventured outside dressed as a woman.
David Watson, prosecuting, said Eaton, 23, came and sat near the group and began staring at the victim. Mr Watson added: "He was acting in a strange, bizarre manner and was staring at the victim and looking him up and down. His manner made him uncomfortable and made him feel that he was hostile towards him because of the manner in which he dressed."
When the group left the pub at around 1am, Eaton was lying in wait and approached the victim. He hit him in the face with a beer glass, knocking him to the ground with such force that he was briefly unconscious.
Eaton was captured by police shortly afterwards when he "ran into a bus stop" while trying to flee the scene, which led to him collapsing and being taken to hospital.
Mr Watson said the victim lost three teeth in the attack, leaving him with a "significant and obvious gap" at the front of his mouth.
In two personal impact statements read out in court, the victim said the assault had had a serious physical and psychological effect on him. This included being unable to leave the house or look after himself, and being in constant pain. He added: "My self-confidence has been shattered and I have replayed the incident over and over again.
"People should be able to live their lives free from the fear of being assaulted. It has also put my transitioning on hold."
The court heard that Eaton had a previous conviction for attacking his father with a knife when 18 years old, for which he received a suspended sentence in a young offenders institution.
John Weate, defending, said Eaton felt "real shame" for his actions on the night in question, which he put down to intoxication and drug misuse. Mr Weate added: "He is a young man with a troubled background, but he can make something of his life. He has nine GCSEs, three A-levels and vocational qualifications. He's determined not to put himself in this position again."
Judge Neil Flewitt KC told Eaton: "We live in a civilised and tolerant society, and your victim was entitled to expect he would be left alone to enjoy his evening and the company he was in. Instead he encountered you, full of alcohol, cocaine and cannabis. Your hostility was a direct consequence of his transgender identity. This was a further aggravating feature of this case."
Because he was assessed as a "dangerous offender" who posed a risk to the public, Eaton was given an extended sentence of seven years and nine months. This was made up of four years and nine months in prison - of which he must serve two-thirds before being considered for parole - plus an extended licence period of three years.
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