AN EVENTS manager who BIT OFF a student's fingertip in an unprovoked drunken attack has been spared jail \- but has to fork out £15k in compensation. Steve Hubbard, 60, was handed a suspended prison sentence after brutally assaulting Michael Connell, 19, at a boozer in Sissinghurst, Kent.
Chris EadesMichael Connell has been left without a fingertip because of the assault '/ ' 
He has had to have several operations after his fingertip was bitten off Hubbard downed six pints of Guinness and a vodka coke before attacking the teenager at the Milk House pub in November 2018. CCTV footage showed Hubbard approaching and leaning over the student in the pub as he sat drinking a pint before unleashing the brutal attack. The pair became embroiled in a fight, after Hubbard accused his victim of "being rude" to his daughter before launching himself at Mr Connell. He then sunk his teeth into Mr Connell's right middle finger, before two other pub goers attempted to separate the pair. A court heard that he went through the bone, causing an "intense burning sensation" to his victim \- with Hubbard initially claiming Mr Connell cut himself on glass. Canterbury student Mr Connell later found the tip of his finger on a bench, but the digit could not be surgically reattached. Most read in The US Sun CASHING IN Higher monthly social security payments to be sent out from January 2022 PAYDAY Surprise '$1,100 Christmas payments' arriving TOMORROW as $6,300 cash sent out 'NOT DOING WELL' Big's wife 'very upset & they may spend Christmas apart' after rape claims HUMBLE PIE Inside Josh Duggar's Christmas- eating bread & margarine alone in his jail cell STIM WIN Stimulus check payments worth $575M coming in January - here's who's eligible KIMMY'S MINI Kim's fans think daughter Chicago, 3, is her 'TWIN' as she shares sweet photo He has since had to undergo three operations because of the attack, with further surgery expected in the future. Mr Connell, who is right-handed, also had to ditch his career dreams of being an electrician and lost his job as a labourer through severe depression. Speaking after the attack, his dad, Neil Connell, 57, a taxi driver, said: "It's ruined his career, it was a disgusting attack, and I don't have the slightest idea why someone would ever do something like this. "It's vile, and he deserves to go away for this." Mr Connell, now in his second year of an engineering degree, told the court: ...I will remember this day forever because I will never forget the fear and pain I felt that night and the weeks and months that followed. ...The brutality of this attack will haunt me forever. I didn't deserve this, I don't understand it, and I don't accept it.... A judge today ruled that his remorse, ill health and work commitments was enough to impose the suspended sentence. Hubbard, who runs luxury exhibition and events company Bigfish SRL, has built structures for multi-million pound gaming company Airbus across Europe. His company, said to have at least 20 employees and freelancers, has previously carried out luxury events at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity. ...VERY GRAVE' Maidstone Crown Court heard that the top businessman had no previous convictions, and his company would fold without him. His barrister, Richard Barraclough QC, said the businessman accepted he was "reckless" when he bit Mr Connell's finger while it was "lodged" in his mouth. Hubbard was handed eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and must also pay £15,000 in compensation. Judge Jeremy Donne described the injury as "undoubtedly very grave" but felt there was an "extraordinary disconnect" between the incident and Hubbard's day-to-day life. Speaking after the sentencing Mr Connell added: ...I definitely think he deserved more. I don't think eight months, and the fact he isn't even serving, is acceptable. ...As for him saying he has all these health conditions, he didn't have health issues when he attacked me.... Although the court heard Hubbard could pay the compensation immediately, he was given 28 days after pleading guilty to one count of inflicting GBH. As part of his sentence he must undertake 120 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity sessions. 
Chris EadesHe has had to undergo several operations after the incident '/ ' 
Chris EadesHubbard has escaped jail after the brutal attack '/ ' Source:
