A MAN who partially blinded a fellow pubgoer could only offer a “flimsy explanation” to the incident, a court has heard.

Jack Psaras admits throwing an ammonia-based substance in the face on victim Nicholas Brown but denies knowing what was in the bottle.

The incident took place outside the Bath House pub, in Walton.

During the summing up at the trial yesterday, Juliet Donovan, prosecuting, said Psaras was “someone looking for trouble” after asking a witness what was going on outside moments before launching the liquid at Mr Brown.

But the jury heard Psaras claims he did not know what was in the bottle he used in the attack as he had picked it up outside the pub.

Andrew Newton, defending, said: “One thing you might know, sadly, is these substances may be readily available in certain circumstances.

"Is it so unbelievable such a substance might well have been left by someone outside the pub and picked up by Psaras inadvertently and innocently?

“If what the prosecution says is true, where on earth is the motive? There appears to be none.”

Giving evidence during the trial, 32-year-old Psaras, of Warde Chase, in Walton said: “I thought it was beer in the bottle.

“I had another bottle with Desperado in my left hand I’d been drinking from.”

When asked why he threw it, he responded: “I’m not sure. He said something and I threw the bottle in his face.”

Ms Donovan also questioned why the left-handed defendant did not throw the beer he was already holding, to which he replied: “I was drinking from the one I had.”

She branded the incident as a “thuggish, nasty, unprovoked attack”.

She said: “When you throw something at someone’s eyes, you don’t just walk off. He knew full well what happened and that’s why he disappeared, and gave no explanation to the police.”

Psaras has admitted causing grievous bodily harm but denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent.