A hooligan who smashed a glass into a motorist's face has been jailed for 18 months.

Nigel Watson was trying to make his escape from a mob attack on him and his friends when 21-year-old Andrew Geoffrey Duncan struck, said Glenn Parsons, prosecuting at York Crown Court.

The hooligan's mates were kicking the motorist's friend, David Blakeston, a fter knocking him to the ground with six or seven blows to the head.

With 12 pieces of glass sticking in his face, 24-year-old Mr Watson managed to flee in his car, knocking Duncan over as he did so and drive home. He arrived in a state of shock and feeling sick.

The evening attack at Clifton Moor has left him with a scarred lip and he is nervous about going out.

Duncan, of Barkston Avenue, Chapelfields, pleaded guilty to wounding Mr Watson and was jailed for 18 months.

"If the consequences were that the man you assaulted, in panic knocked you over with his car, you only have yourself to blame," the Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, told him.

Duncan will serve that sentence after one for 12 months imposed by magistrates in June for aggravated taking vehicles without consent, and other matters committed while on the run for the "glassing" offence.

Mr Parsons said car enthusiasts Mr Watson and Mr Blakeston were chatting with their friend, Matthew Cooper, at 8.30pm on October 22 on the Clifton Moor estate when about 25 to 30 youths and young men walked past towards a local bowling centre.

Half-an-hour later some of the group, including Duncan, walked away from the bowling centre towards the three friends. One of the group picked a fight with Mr Blakeston, and despite the motorist trying to defuse the situation, the gang attacked him.

Mr Watson got into his car and tried to close its door, but Duncan blocked his efforts and slammed the glass into his face.

Police called to the scene initially treated it as a hit and run, with Duncan as the victim. He gave a false name and tried to leave hospital in a hurry after treatment, but police worked out the truth and arrested him before he could.

His barrister, Taryn Turner, said he had "gone to ground" after his first crown court appearance and eluded police for months. Duncan accepted he had a drink problem and had been in drink during the Clifton Moor incident, which he had not started. He himself suffered painful injuries from Mr Watson's car.

Updated: 10:30 Wednesday, August 10, 2005