A ROYAL Marine was today starting ten months in jail instead of preparing to go to Afghanistan.

Matthew James Sowerby, 20, scarred a young woman for life when she was the innocent bystander in an argument between Sowerby and the bar manager at a York nightclub, said Bashir Ahmed, prosecuting.

As Sowerby threw his drink at the manager in the Reflex bar, he accidentally threw the glass which hit Sarah Cartwright.

Ms Cartwright, a worker at the club, suffered cuts to her face. She now experiences flashbacks and has difficulty working when customers are aggressive or drunk.

Simon Reevell, representing Sowerby, said: “What frightens him most is not being able to deploy with his colleagues to Afghanistan, the fear of having let himself down and having let down the Royal Marines.”

Mr Reevell said a jail term would finish Sowerby’s career in the Royal Navy.

Judge Peter Hunt said Sowerby had an exemplary career in which he had served his country with courage.

But he said: “If priority is given to the saving of your career than to the lasting harm to her, she is entitled to say injustice has been done. In this court the feelings of the victim come first to the feelings of the defendant. She will be reminded of the consequences of your criminal behaviour of which she was an innocent bystander each and every time she looks in a mirror.”

Sowerby, of Tadcaster Road, York, pleaded guilty to wounding Ms Cartwright, his first conviction.

York Crown Court heard his unit was expected to leave shortly for Afghanistan.

Mr Ahmed said Sowerby had had a lot to drink before he argued with one of Ms Cartwright’s colleagues behind the bar in the early hours of November 7.