A thug who inflicted horrific knife injuries on a pub customer has been jailed for 12 years.

Darryn Scullion pulled out a knife during a confrontation with his victim and sliced a huge wound in his back, exposing his internal organs.

The victim, aged 32, had intervened when Scullion began verbally abusing staff at the Union pub, in Hinckley town centre, in July last year.

Scullion (41), of no fixed abode, was sentenced today at Birmingham Crown Court.

After the hearing, the victim’s mother told the Leicester Mercury her son was still recovering from the attack and has a long scar on his back.

In a statement issued through Leicestershire Police, she said: “I believe Darryn Scullion to be a very dangerous man that lacks remorse for his crime or any compassion for suffering he has caused.”

After today’s hearing, Detective Constable Simon Clarke, the investigating officer, said: “This was a horrific attack which took place in front of several members of the public, who are still traumatised by what they witnessed that day and the injuries the victim sustained.

Scullion attacked the victim at the Union pub
Scullion attacked the victim at the Union pub

“The victim was very lucky, although his injuries were serious, that he didn’t lose his life.

“The judge referred to Scullion as a dangerous offender with a previous conviction for using a knife in an assault and today’s significant sentence shows the seriousness of this offence.”

Scullion was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after a trial at Birmingham Crown Court in May.

He returned to the same court yesterday where he was jailed for 12 years.

He was also given a six month sentence for a possession of the knife. That sentence will run concurrently.

Leicestershire Police is running a campaign called Lives Not Knives to raise awareness of the consequences of carrying or using a blade.