Prenton man jailed for bottle attack that almost slashed victim’s jugular

Aug 19 2009 Birkenhead News

A DAD narrowly missed having his jugular severed when he was bottled during his 25th wedding anniversary celebrations.

Keith Ellard had broken up a confrontation during the evening of his party in September last year involving Peter Cavanagh.

But, shortly after, the 21-year-old picked up a bottle and attacked Mr Ellard from behind, striking him twice with the weapon. Jailing Cavanagh for 10 months at Liverpool Crown Court, Judge David Boulton showed him the photographs of the scars running down Mr Ellard’s neck.

He said: “That is the injury you inflicted.

“As you can see from the photographs, the wound missed the jugular vein by something like half-an-inch. Missing that was pure good fortune both for you and Mr Ellard because had it slashed the jugular vein he would have died.

“You would have been facing a charge of murder.”

David Owen, prosecuting, told the court Mr Ellard had been celebrating the milestone anniversary with his family at the Beechwood Social Club in Prenton on September 20 last year.

Cavanagh, of Hillview Court, Prenton, admitted wounding.