Jail for thug who left man blind in one eye

Dean Grant, 23, had been on the run from the police for 18 months for drug offences when he went into the home of Lawrence Finley to get some cannabis, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

But violence broke out between at least four people at the Merridale Street West property on April 18, prosecutor Nick Wadsworth said.

"Mr Finley is punched to the face by the defendant several times and one catches him on the eye and causes a laceration to the eyeball," said Mr Wadsworth.

"Mr Finley is complaining that he has lost his sight from his eye. Unfortunately, surgeons were unable to save his sight.

"There is a general melee and other people become involved, including the defendant's brother."

The court was told Mr Grant's brother was hit by a bottle and left in a coma. He has since woken from the coma but has lost his sense of smell, said Mr Brett Wilson for the defence.

"My client regrets getting into this dreadful situation. He said it stated when he went out with his brother to a pub and then went to a house to get some cannabis. When he arrived there were accusations he had smashed windows," said Mr Wilson.

"He admits there was a fracas. My client says the image of seeing his brother on the floor unconscious was the resting memory in his mind."

Grant, of Crawford Road, Chapel Ash, admitted one count of affray and one count of producing cannabis in 2012.

The court was told he was a 'gardener' growing around 28 cannabis plants in the spare room at his mum's house.

"This was a cottage operation, not an industrial-sized one," added Mr Wadsworth.

Police discovered the small drugs factory when they raided his mother's house in Bushbury in 2012.

He had been at large since the incident but had tried to hand himself in, Mr Wilson said.

Jailing Grant consecutively for 18 months for the affray and 12 months for the cannabis production, Recorder Nigel Baker said: "The affray is very serious matter and that punch that you gave to the victim cost him his eye sight.

"In regards to the cannabis production, I am not convinced by the arguments that you were not a major player."

The court was told that Grant had already served the equivalent of a year in custody while on bail since his arrest earlier this year, meaning 12 months will be deducted from his sentence.