A TEENAGER who struck a man with a broken glass bottle in act of late-night violence has avoided being sent to prison.

Bleu Isaiah Gaines inflicted injuries to Nicholas Edward Merson in the Pier Approach area of Bournemouth at around 11pm on July 17 last year.

Gaines, 19, used the weapon to hit the defendant twice before Mr Merson ran off.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard that the victim suffered "serious injuries" but did not want police to investigate the assault.

Recorder Adam Feest QC decided against sending the defendant to prison for an offence of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Mr Merson with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.

Bournemouth Echo: Bleu Gaines, 19 and of Kingfisher Close, Bournemouth

Instead, the judge imposed a sentence of two years' imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Gaines, of Kingfisher Close, Bournemouth, pleaded guilty to the charge at an earlier hearing.

"You have come as close as it is possible to come to going to prison today," said the judge.

He added: "Mr Gaines, I am taking a risk on you. I am persuaded that the public interest, your rehabilitation and reducing the risk of reoffending is best served by not sending you to prison today."

Prosecuting, Rebecca Fairbairn played CCTV footage of the short incident to the court in which an initial altercation occurred, which did not involve the defendant, before Gaines can be seen chasing after Mr Merson.

Following the assault, both Gaines and Mr Merson run away from the scene.

Ms Fairbairn said the victim had several wounds to his back and damage to his thumb.

The prosecutor said Mr Merson did not wish to provide a victim impact statement or an update on his physical condition.

Mitigating, Nick Tucker said the defendant was still a young man who had potential to be a valued member of society.

"This is a young man who very briefly but seriously went off the rails," said the barrister.

Mr Tucker asked the judge to take an "exceptional and merciful" stance and impose a suspended sentence, which the barrister said would best serve the public interest.

This would allow the defendant to "put a dark chapter in his life behind him", said Mr Tucker.

In relation to the assault, Mr Tucker said it was "impetuous" and committed while "in drink".

The defendant's father, Jeremy Gaines, gave evidence during the hearing in which he said his son was training to be a plasterer and that he was receiving counselling to tackle some of his issues.

"There is no part of what he did that night that is okay with me, or him either," said Jeremy Gaines.

In his sentencing remarks, Recorder Feest QC: "You chased and then struck out at your victim with a broken jagged glass bottle."

He added: "It was a short incident, but violent none the less."

The offence was aggravated by the nature of the public violence, the attack being without provocation and whilst the defendant was intoxicated, the judge said.

Recorder Feest QC noted a number of mitigating factors, including the remorse expressed by Gaines, the lack of previous convictions, his good character, his age and the background of a difficult upbringing.

The judge ordered the defendant to comply with a six-month overnight curfew, an alcohol abstinence requirement for 140 days, carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and complete up to 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Before leaving the dock, Gaines, who broke down in tears after the judge handed down the suspended sentence, told the court: "I won't be here again, your honour."