A man, who police have described as a 'violent thug', has been jailed for seven years after smashing a stranger over the head with a bottle of Grey Goose vodka, leaving him with complex facial fractures. Joseph Smith, 23, of no fixed address, was sentenced after being found guilty of two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, following an incident at Brighton Station in August last year. British Transport Police said the victim had stopped for a kebab with a friend on his way to the station while his girlfriend waited outside. Officers said a court heard Smith and a friend were being rude and abusive to passers-by in the street, and made a series of lewd comments towards the victim's girlfriend. Smith then followed the pair to the station and continued to be abusive, before looping in front of the victim, and smashing him across the head with a large vodka bottle. Police said the victim fell straight to the floor, and was taken to hospital where he received treatment for multiple complex facial fractures. As a result, officers said the victims has felt vulnerable and has struggled to sleep properly since the incident. In sentencing Smith, the judge said he was a 'dangerous' individual with 'an inability to control himself' and 'showed no real remorse' for his actions, according to police. DS Allan McTaggart said: "Smith is a repeat violent offender who has shown absolutely no remorse for his behaviour or consideration for his victims. "I thoroughly echo the Judge's comments and welcome the significant custodial sentence imposed on Smith for this senseless attack. "There is absolutely no place for violence of any kind on the railway network and we will do everything in our power to bring these offenders before the courts to answer for their actions." One of the charges relates to a previous incident in March last year, where Smith punched a man after being kicked out of a bar in Burgess Hill, fracturing his jaw and knocking out several teeth. As well as his sentence, Smith will also be on extended licence for two years after he is released.
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