Baby-faced teen slashed man's face in horrific nightclub attack in row over VIP booth

A baby-faced teenager left a man needing 30 stitches in his face after a squabble over a nightclub booth erupted into violence.

Riley Jackson, 19, pulled out a knife and slashed his victim's cheek 'without warning' after he tried to challenge Jackson for sitting in the booth his group had paid for in a city centre nightclub. The 19-year-old was jailed for five years after the brutal assault, which took place in April this year and left his victim with permanent scarring.

The court heard how the 19-year-old victim had been dancing with his friends after they purchased a VIP booth in the club before noticing a group of males - including Jackson - sat in their booth. His friends confronted Jackson, who then suddenly stood up and shouted aggressively "don't chat to him' and 'I'll slash yous all'.

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The victim approached the booth after noticing the commotion and Jackson turned his attention to him, shouting 'what you gonna do', the court heard.

He then before took a knife from his pocket and suddenly swung it in an upwards motion across the victim's face, causing a severe slash wound to the victim’s cheek. He was rushed to hospital, where he needed 30 stitches in the wound.

Jackson and his group fled the scene but were tracked down by officers. He was arrested and charged in May 2023.

Following a trial, Jackson, of Aldbourne Close, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a knife in a public place .

Detective Constable Annabel Lewis of GMP’s City Centre CID, said: “No matter the length of sentence