A man from Stevenage has been given a suspended prison sentence after he attacked a van driver who gave him a lift.

The two men met at Ladbrokes bookmakers in Stevenage on March 14 last year. They had a conversation and Harry Westfall, now 27, helped the driver place a bet.

St Albans Crown Court heard that the grateful driver then bought a bottle of beer for Westfall, and drove him to some shops to meet friends.

But, according to prosecutor George Heimler, Westfall was reluctant to leave the van.

He used the beer bottle to hit the driver twice, striking his left eye and lip.

The victim was covered in blood and suffered a hole in his lip, which needed sutures. He had three weeks off work and has been left with scar tissue.

CCTV images later showed that Westfall had used cocaine before he went into Ladbrokes.

After the attack, he texted a friend: “I did not mean for this to happen - I was out of my nut.“

Westfall, of Ripon Road in Stevenage, has 11 previous convictions for 24 offences.

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He admitted committing the offence, which occurred on March 14 last year.

Andrew Corcut, defending, said: “[Westfall] fully accepts his behaviour was wrong. He fully accepts culpability.”

Mr Corcut said that Westfall, a former scaffolder who is currently on universal credit, had been attending Cocaine Anonymous.

During Westfall's sentencing for causing grievious bodily harm (GBH), Recorder Lee Harris said: “You were on drugs and carried out an unprovoked attack.”

He gave Westfall a 15-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, and told him: “You have come very close to going to prison today. You are being given a final chance.”

Westfall must follow a drug rehabilitation requirement for siz months, attend 19 Thinking Skill sessions, 25 rehabilitation days and 150 hours’ unpaid work. He must also pay the victim £250 compensation.