A TEENAGER may face jail for carrying out a bottle attack which left a man needing 44 stitches and his brother blind in one eye.

Charlie Robbins, 19, of River View Close, Laindon, wept as he was found guilty by a jury following a week-long trial at Basildon Crown Court.

Robbins smashed William Green over the head with a vodka bottle after they had argued on the doorstep of Mr Green’s home in River View Close, Laindon, at about 1am on August 29, last year.

He then stabbed him in the body with the broken bottle in a scuffle before kicking him in the head as he lay on the floor.

Mr Green, 26, was left with a deep cut on his left temple and serious wounds to the back, neck and arm.

Mr Green’s half-brother Anthony Williams, 19, also lost sight in his left eye during the attack.

Mr Williams, who was at the time best friends with Robbins, was accidentally hit in the face by a piece of flying glass from the broken bottle.

The brothers and their mum and sister, along with family and friends of Robbins, packed the public gallery as the verdict was returned.

Robbins was found guilty by a majority verdict of wounding Mr Green with intent. He was acquitted of causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Williams.

Judge Michael Brooke said that because the altercation was started by Mr Green pushing Robbins, he would sentence on the basis that it was “over-the-top self-defence”. But he said the extreme nature of the attack meant Robbins would be assessed to determine if he was a danger to the public.

The judge said: “This was a sad case, and not a very easy one. Clearly it was an assault where he broke a bottle over the victim’s head and, in the ensuing struggle, stabbed his body with the broken glass. But it should be noted that it was fortuitous he had the bottle because it was one he had been drinking from.”

Robbins was released on bail, on the condition he does not contact Mr Green and Mr Williams, prior to his sentencing next month.

CHARLIE Robbins says his only crime was to protect himself.

The 19-year-old, who could be jailed for a long time if he is assessed to be dangerous, is dismayed to be found guilty of deliberately wounding William Green, who he says was the aggressor.

He said: “Today has just been my worst nightmare and now I just hope a sensible decision is made when it comes to my sentence and it will not ruin the rest of my life.”

He became emotional when asked about the horrific eye injury sustained by Anthony Williams.

He said: “Me and Anthony were best friends and were always with each other every day. I am so sorry for him, he was my best friend. I’m gutted.

“Obviously I can’t speak to him now, because of my bail, but whatever happens afterwards I hope one day I can speak to him again.

“As soon as I get the chance I will go up to him an apologise and ask him if we can be mates again.”