A thug who smashed a glass into a man's face on a dance floor, leaving him permanently scarred, has been jailed.

Daniel Purvis, 38, of South Eastern Road, Ramsgate, denied wounding with intent following the incident, but was convicted of the offence following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court.

He was sentenced to nine years in prison on Friday January 25.

The court heard how the victim of the attack - a 26-year-old man - had been in a pub in Harbour Parade, Ramsgate, in the early hours of Sunday, May 20 last year, when Purvis began acting in an aggressive manner to one of his companions on the dance floor.

Fearing his friends were about to be assaulted by Purvis, the victim stepped between them, but Purvis struck him in the face with a glass which then shattered, causing the victim’s cheek to bleed heavily.

Purvis admitted being in the pub and being involved in an altercation but claimed he had felt threatened by the group and had barged past them with his hands spread in front of him. He denied he was carrying a glass at the time.

But his account was called into question by CCTV footage inside the pub, which showed a slight hint of a glass in his hand before he struck the victim. Purvis was then seen leaving the pub with a red mark on his hand.

Investigating officer PC Hisham Hijazi said: "As a result of the assault the victim has been left with life-changing injuries. His wounds needed more than 40 stitches and he will be permanently scarred.

"This was a vicious and unprovoked attack on a man who was enjoying a night out with his friends.

"By jailing Purvis for nine years, plus a three year extension to his licence, the judge has shown just how seriously the justice system views violent crime.

"I hope the sentence will serve as a reminder that it is never acceptable to hurt others."