A CITY businessman who caused a deep wound with a bottle in a pub has been banned from every licensed premises in Worcester for two years.

Alfie Jones was also jailed for two years, but will only serve half the sentence in prison.

He lunged at victim Kevin Allen after a row over a spilled drink, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Mr Allen, on a night out with relatives, needed eight stitches for a 6cm cut near an eye.

Granting an exclusion order asked for by police, Judge Michael Mott said there were many cases which came before the court when such orders should be made.

He told 26-year-old Jones: "This was a bottle in the face. It took place in public and could have sparked a major incident."

A woman in the public gallery screamed abuse at the judge as Jones was led away.

The incident - in Chicago Rock on Friday, December 1, last year - began after Mr Allen was carrying his drink back to a table.

An argument started after Jones, of Waterside Park, Warndon, accidentally knocked a glass from Mr Allen's hand.

Without warning, Jones landed a blow to Mr Allen's face, said William Rickarby, prosecuting.

Jones told police Mr Allen's party joined the row and he lashed out in self-defence, forgetting he was holding the bottle.

Asking for the exclusion order from 26 outlets, Mr Rickarby said the maximum ban was two years for anyone committing violence on licensed premises.

Francis Laird, defending, said Jones was not prone to violence.

He thought the situation might escalate before the blow was struck, but accepted what he did was out of proportion to the aggression he faced.

Prison would deprive Jones's family of his income. He had no interest in pubs any more.

After the case, Worcester Licensed Victuallers Association chairman Mike Stevens said he supported the ban.

"It's a more effective deterrent than any amount of fines because, if you ban someone from where their mates drink, it will make them think before they stick a glass in someone's face," he said.