Jack Shepherd appears in court charged with 'glassing' barman at Devon hotel

Defendant, 31, accused of wounding Afghan war veteran

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Jack Shepherd as he appears before Plymouth Magistrates' Court via video link charged with assaulting a barman with a bottle, on 30 April (PA)

A man has appeared in court charged with “glassing” a barman in a Devon hotel.

Jack Shepherd appeared at Plymouth Magistrates' Court via video link to face a charge of wounding with intent on 16 March 2018.

The 31-year-old is accused of “unlawfully and maliciously” wounding former soldier David Beech during the incident at a hotel in Newton Abbot.

Mr Shepherd, formerly of Charles Street in Bristol, did not enter a plea and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address and that he understood the proceedings.

District Judge Diane Baker sent the case to Exeter Crown Court for a hearing on 30 May.

“It is an allegation of assault with a bottle on a barman,” she said.

The court heard Mr Beech was a former soldier who had served in Afghanistan.

She told the defendant: “At the moment, Mr Shepherd, there is no application for bail. I am going to formally send up the section 18 wounding matter to Exeter Crown Court for trial.

“The date that I give you isn't a trial date, it is a plea and case management hearing at Exeter Crown Court.”

Shepherd, wearing a white t-shirt, was represented by Richard Egan.

Additional reporting by PA