A 72-YEAR-old man has been jailed for seven years after he walked into a pub and slashed a customer's face.

Claudius Wright went to the Criterion pub in St Paul's and carried out what Bristol Crown Court heard was an apparently motiveless attack on Bernard McDonagh, who was left needing almost 70 stitches.

The pensioner threatened that if anyone crossed him he would use a knife, the court heard.

Shortly afterwards he pulled a knife on middle-aged Mr McDonagh, who was celebrating his birthday, stabbing him in the stomach then slicing his face from his cheek bone to his mouth, leaving a gaping wound.

Wright, of Brook Hill, Lower Cheltenham Place, Montpelier, denied wrongdoing but a jury convicted him of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after the incident in March.

He was jailed yesterday after a judge said his victim had been left scarred for life.

Stephen Dent, prosecuting, said the pensioner stood next to Mr McDonagh in the bar and slashed him in the stomach and face for no apparent reason.

Mr McDonagh was taken to hospital and had three hours of surgery, receiving 34 internal stitches and 34 external stitches.

At Wright's trial last month the jury heard evidence from the pub's landlord, Vincent White, that earlier that night Wright had come into the premises talking about violence and "acting hard".

The court heard Wright had convictions for violence dating back 50 years, including assault occasioning actual harm, grievous bodily harm, assault on police, wounding and possessing offensive weapons.

In 1997 he was jailed for four years for possessing a class A drug with intent to supply.

A bizarre moment occurred in his trial when, as his attack weapon was being discussed, he produced it from his pocket, having brought it in to the court room undetected. Judge David Ticehurst, who conducted the trial, asked to have a look at the blade and confiscated it.

Stephen Mooney, defending, said his client did not go out looking for trouble.

He told the court: "He reacted inappropriately, disproportionately and unlawfully to a threat carried out by a larger drunken man.

"He realised immediately how appalling this was and couldn't believe he had done it. He does demonstrate remorse for his actions."

Mr Mooney said Wright was born in the West Indies and hankered to return there to live out his remaining days. "He had been working as a deck builder and he cannot believe he's in this position at this time.

"He's been supported by thoroughly decent, honest people who have been helping him through the trial and he's well liked."

Judge Ticehurst told Wright: "Your victim will bear the scars for the rest of his life.

"You should have learned your lesson many years ago and learned how to behave in public.

"Violence and carrying knives has been part of your life on far too many occasions."

The judge said that if Wright served his time properly he would be free after serving half the term.