Poster girl for UK-first Air and Space Institute in Newark given suspended jail term after former soldier with PTSD is hit in the face by a glass on a New Year’s Eve night out in Lincoln

An aspiring young pilot left a former soldier covered in blood when she recklessly threw a glass during a New Year's Eve night out.

Leyla Binns, 20, who was a pupil at the UK's first Air and Space Institute (ASI) in Newark, left Harrison Savage with a 3cm cut under his left eye.

But after receiving a suspended jail sentence, Binns will still be able to take up a new job at East Midlands Airport, despite her conviction.

Binns was featured regularly in media articles promoting the UK-first course, which aims to help aspiring pilots and engineers secure a pathway into the RAF and airspace industry, and boasts a £35,000 flight simulator.

Mr Harrison's first memory of the incident was being covered in blood and getting treatment from emergency services, a court heard.

Lincoln Crown Court was told Mr Harrison had been enjoying a New Year's Eve night out in the cathedral city when he came across his former girlfriend, Emily Barker, who was out with Binns.

Thomas Welshman, prosecuting, said Binns decided to intervene after Miss Barker was left crying in the toilets of the Home nightclub on Park Street following an argument with Mr Savage.

Mr Savage was punched and slapped by Binns who then walked away, the court heard.

"Mr Savage thought that was the end of it," Mr Welshman told the court.

"His next recollection is being covered in blood and receiving treatment from emergency services."

One of Mr Savage's friends did see the glass leaving Binns' hand from a distance of six feet, the court heard.

"Suddenly Mr Savage's face was covered in blood," Mr Welshman added.

The friend described Binns appearing to freeze and telling Mr Savage: "Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean it, I didn't mean to hurt you."

However a police officer who attended the scene noted Binns saying: "It is something that was deserved."

The prosecution accepted Binns only intended to throw the contents of her glass at Mr Savage, but it then slipped out of her hand because it was wet.

Mr Savage was taken to hospital where he needed 11 stitches for a 3cm cut under his left eye.

In a victim statement which was read out in court Mr Savage said he felt "gutted and saddened" by the events of the night.

Mr Savage, who said he suffered from PTSD from his time in the Army, said: "It is the thought I could have been blinded or even killed that frightens me."

Binns, of Brocklesby Road, Scunthorpe, admitted unlawfully wounding Mr Savage during the early hours of New Year's Day, 2022.

Jeremy Janes, mitigating, said Binns had no previous convictions and described her behaviour on the night "as totally out of character."

"She went to swill Mr Savage," Mr Janes accepted. "It was a reckless act with a wet hand."

Mr Janes acknowledged Binns had perhaps shown misplaced loyalty to her friend, and said there were a number of references testifying to her character, including one from a care home where she worked, and another from the college course she had just completed.

"She is due to start a new job at East Midlands Airport next week and has just completed her own (flight) navigation, Mr Janes added.

"She is clearly from her academic record a young woman who is very intelligent."

Mr Janes added that Binns was still hoping to fulfil an ambition of flying in the United States.

"Going out and binge drinking is very out if character for her," Mr Janes said. "She has not gone out drinking in the last 18 months. Drinking and flying are simply incompatible."

Mr Janes also assured the court that Binns would still be able to take up her new post and pay compensation to Mr Savage, despite her conviction.

Passing sentence Judge Simon Hirst told Binns she "decided to intervene" after Miss Barker was left upset.

'You slapped and punched Mr Savage and you left him with small bleeding in his mouth.

"At that point had matters ended there then you would probably not be here today. But it didn't.

"What you did was to pick up a glass. You have pleaded guilty on the basis you only intended to throw the contents of the glass over Mr Savage.

"In fact the glass was wet, and with you no doubt intoxicated, the glass smashed into the side of his face, not far from far from his eye.

"If the glass had been in a different position Mr Savage may well have lost his eye.

"The way you behaved that night is much of the reason why decent people don't want to go out in this city at night."

Judge Hirst said had the throwing of the glass been deliberate then the length of a custodial sentence would have been the only decision.

But Judge Hirst told Binns because of her guilty plea and lack of previous convictions he could suspend her sentence.

Binns was sentenced to ten months in a young offenders institution, suspended for 12 months.

She must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work in the community and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Binns was also ordered to pay compensation of £1,500 to Mr Savage and £535 court costs.

Judge Hirst warned Binns: "Please don't come back to court. If you do, you will be going down the stairs."

Judge Hirst also remarked that Miss Barker, who attended court to support Binns, "had not covered herself in glory," with a message posted after the glass incident.