City executive Stefan Pillinger jailed for throwing glass

City executive Stefan Pillinger jailed for throwing glass

A City executive who threw glasses at bar staff after the word "gay" was scrawled on his credit card has been jailed for nine months.

The Old Bailey heard Stefan Pillinger, 29, of Fulham, west London, got into a row at The Banker pub in the City when his credit card was refused.

When he then found the word written on his card he injured two staff with tumblers, leaving one with a head scar.

He admitted unlawful wounding and actual bodily harm.

The court heard Pillinger was the part-owner of recruitment firm Eximius Group, whose clients included Bank of America and HSBC.

Called staff 'Australian'

Describing the moment the card was refused, Mark Weekes, prosecuting, said: "The defendant became aggressive and abusive."

Pillinger was heard to swear and call staff "Australian".

The transaction was processed and only then did he discover the word written on his card.

He became aggressive and asked staff to "come outside where his friends would smash their faces in".

Pillinger then threw two hexagonal glass tumblers at barmen.

Benjamin McKay was left with a deep 3cm wound to his head which cut through his scalp, leaving a permanent scar.

Pavel Sawicki was knocked unconscious.

'Utterly terrified'

In a police interview, Pillinger claimed he had been "manhandled" and said he threw the glasses to create a distraction and escape the bar.

Mitigating, his counsel Ben Maguire said he was full of remorse and "utterly terrified" of prison.

But Judge Peter Rook told the defendant: "You know very well as an intelligent person that throwing glasses at a crowded bar has the potential to cause really serious injury.

"I accept all the mitigation but I am afraid this case is so serious I cannot avoid an immediate sentence of imprisonment."