Arfath Ali was jailed for seven years and nine months.

A thug who attacked a man in a Norwich nightclub in a row over a girl was jailed for seven years yesterday.

Arfath Ali was out celebrating New Year’s Eve in Prince of Wales Road when he glassed a man in the face in a fight at Mojo’s.

His victim needed 38 stitches after being attacked by the 29-year-old.

Ali was also jailed for nine months for escaping from custody.

At an earlier hearing into the assault at Norwich Crown Court in April, he leapt from the dock and fled from the building.

He was caught almost two weeks later at Asda in Ipswich.

Ali admitted a charge of escaping custody, but denied the wounding with intent.

A jury found him guilty following a trial at Norwich Crown Court.

The court was told at an earlier hearing how Ali, of Eric Street, London, glassed his victim after asking him why he had spoken to the girl.

The victim said he saw the glass coming towards him and raised his left hand but the glass broke in his face.

He said that he fell to the floor and was then helped by a doorman and taken to hospital, where he needed 38 stitches.

But Ali claimed it was a case of mistaken identity and said he was an innocent bystander.

He said a fight had broken out and he was trying to protect his girlfriend, when he was grabbed by a doorman and accused of being the attacker.