O'Neill Norman awaiting sentence after injuring man at Yates in Southampton

O’Neill St Patrick Norman “belted” another man with a bottle of Prosecco, causing a deep cut above his eye, Southampton Crown Court was told.

It happened after Norman leapt to his feet with his arms outstretched shouting “I’m Jamaican, I’m Jamaican”, the court heard.

Norman, 45, of Commercial Road, Southampton, was later charged with assault causing actual bodily harm on December 27 last year.

He was deemed unfit to enter a plea but the jury returned a verdict that he “did the act”.

 

In comes after the defendant, previously known as Norman O’Neill, was handed a four-year Sexual Risk Order following an unrelated case at Southampton Magistrates’ Court in October.

The defendant was told he must give police 24 hours’ notice every time he intends to have sex. He was also ordered to provide details of each woman’s identity and inform her, before any sexual activity takes place, that he has HIV.

The court heard he had not been convicted of any offence.

But he was alleged to have put “vulnerable” women at risk by engaging in unprotected sex without telling them about his medical condition.

The incident involving the Prosecco took place outside Yates in Above Bar Street.

Edward Elton, prosecuting, said the defendant was sitting at a table when he became involved in an argument.

He added: “Mr Norman grabbed a glass bottle and stood with his chin jutting out in an animalistic symbol of aggression.”

Southampton Crown Court

Witness Helen Worley said Norman was slapped by the man he was arguing with. He reacted by smashing the bottle over the other person’s head “with extreme force”.

Gemma White, defending, told the jurors they knew nothing about the cause of the altercation or the background.

She added: “You can’t be sure this wasn’t an act of self defence.”

Recorder David Williams ordered pre-sentence reports and adjourned the case until January.