A man who glassed a woman in the face becasue she spurned his advances has been jailed for three years.

Patrick Gayle, 49, from Hampton Road in Croydon, smashed the pint glass in her face as she fetched her coat to leave.

Audrey De’Allie was in the Newton Arms pub in Thornton Heath with two of her sisters on June 27, 2009, when she was assaulted.

Miss De’Allie, who is now suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, said the first thought that went through her mind was: “I didn’t do anything to anybody, why has he done this to me?”

After the attack, and still blinded by the blood, Miss De’Allie went back into the toilet and was cared for by friends and worried onlookers.

She was rushed to Mayday Hospital and then St Georges in Tooting where she lost three pints of blood.

She said: “At the time I didn’t know how badly I was cut so I just put water on it because I couldn’t see.”

Gayle was arrested at his home later that same evening after fellow patrons of the pub gave up his address.

He was found in a drunken state with the denim jacket he was wearing that night, covered in Miss De’Allie’s blood.

According to the police Gayle assaulted another woman by punching her in the face before striking Miss De’Allie with the glass “causing substantial facial injuries”.

Investigating officer, detective constable Roberts said: "This was a particularly vicious and unprovoked attack upon the victim who was enjoying a night out with family and friends.

"The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and will hopefully provide some closure for the victim and her family."