The Daily Echo campaign, supported by the police, is to encourage late-night bars and clubs in Hampshire to switch from glass to plastic.

---

Louise Reeves before her attack

IT HAS been 18 months since an unprovoked bottle attack left her scarred for life.

Louise Reeves needed 60 stitches in her face after the glassing at a Southampton nightclub which left her face cut from her eyelid to below her cheek.

A hairdresser by trade, in the early months after the attack she could not bear to see her face in the mirror and was forced to quit her job.

Now Louise, 21, has joined the Daily Echo's campaign to turn Southampton's late night venues glass-free to stop other potential victims suffering like she did.

It was on Boxing Day 2006 when the vicious assault took place as Louise enjoyed a night out with her then boyfriend and another friend.

She was at the bar at Diva buying a round of drinks when she felt the blow to her head as her attacker Samantha Attrill smashed a bottle on her head.

---

Click here to learn more about our campaign

---

Speaking last year after Attrill was jailed at Winchester Crown Court having been found guilty of malicious wounding, Louise told the Echo: "I can remember just standing there holding my face and head because it was hurting so much. I can remember the pain. I looked down and I was totally covered in blood. My clothes were just red and people all around me were moving away and screaming.

"I was just standing there, thinking it was my head but then I touched my face and it was all bleeding. It was completely cut open from my left eyelid down beneath my cheek."

Louise after the horrific assault

The former Regents Park schoolgirl had to attend numerous appointments with specialist surgeons as her injury began to heal. Now, with barely a trace of the horrific injuries and back at work, Louise said: "I think I am lucky in that my scar has healed so well. Looking back it could have been so much worse.

It's so easy for people to drink too much and turn nasty but I know what can happen in a split second.

"In a moment someone could be left blind or seriously disfigured - taking glass out of the bars would take away that risk.

"I would urge every bar and club to consider going glass free to stop other people going through what I have had to go through."

6:06pm Monday 21st April 2008

Print   Email this