A THUG jumped on a pub table and kicked a glass into the face of an innocent bystander because he was drinking water.

Ross Richardson caused serious facial injuries to the victim after his foot and the glass struck the stranger in the beer garden at Silk Road, Colchester.

There were no signs of trouble before the incident and security staff managed to remove Richardson and help police with CCTV footage to capture him and bring him to justice afterwards.

Stephen Sparkes, prosecuting at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday, told the court it was 3am on August 20 at the late night venue in St Botolph's Street.

He said: "The victim went outside to the beer garden. There was a male sitting there.

"The defendant said 'have some of my drink, have a proper drink'.

"The victim declined and sat with his glass of water.

"The defendant jumped up on the table and kicked the victim in the face.

"The foot of the defendant caught the glass and caused the glass to smash in the victim's face.

"The defendant was ejected and identified by CCTV."

The victim suffered deep lacerations just above his eye and required stitches.

Richardson, 30, of Orwell Close, Colchester, admitted one count of unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on the victim when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Mr Sparkes said: "He required stitches and suffered a fractured nose.

"He was taken to Colchester General Hospital.

"The defendant has used his foot as a weapon and has caused serious injury."

Powers at Colchester Magistrates' Courts are limited at six months in jail for a single offence.

District Judge Susan Holdham told Richardson: "You have pleaded guilty.

"I can't deal with this matter as it is too serious to be dealt with in the magistrates' court."

Richardson, who already has a previous conviction for assault, will be sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on March 21.