A THUG who blinded a rugby star by glassing him in an unprovoked nightclub attack has been jailed.
Former Leeds Rhinos player Matthew Syron, 32, was on a night out with pals at Revolution de Cuba when he bumped into Gareth Dean.
The yob then smashed a glass into Matthew’s face – causing the shards to pierce his face and eyeballs.
He was left writhing in agony on the ground with blood pouring from his eyes following the Boxing Day horror attack.
Dean has now been jailed for ten years and eight months, with a further five years on licence, after he admitted causing GBH with intent.
Leeds Crown Court heard the thug has ten previous convictions for 15 offences, including serious violence.
In a powerful victim impact statement, Matthew said he was left feeling suicidal following the attack.
He added: “I have gone from being a person that doesn’t need anything from anyone to now being a 32-year-old that’s like a baby. It is soul-destroying.
“I hate every day.”
Matthew’s fiancee Keone told the court how their “dream” to have more children has been put on hold since the horror.
The family have also been unable to return to their home in Australia due to the player’s ongoing medical treatment.
Keone added: “Instead of planning a homecoming with my partner I’m planning appointments with a carer.”
The court heard both men had separately been in the club in Leeds after watching a rugby league match earlier that day.
Dean had an arm-wrestling competition with one of Matthew’s friends, which was said to have ended in good spirits.
But CCTV later showed the attacker reaching across another man and smashing the glass in the player’s face.
He then fled the club to continue his night out before handing himself into police six days later.
Dean admitted he had sunk 15 pints that night and also tested positive for cocaine.
Matty is not the same man any more. It has ruined his life.
Matthew's brother Tom
Prosecutor Michale Smith said: “My Syron fell immediately to the floor and realised his vision had gone totally black.
“He has experienced pain before but nothing like that. This was a different level of seriousness altogether.
“They did not know each other and had no arguments and had very little interaction in the bar. It was an entirely unprovoked attack.”
Matthew has since undergone surgery in a bid to restore his vision and can now see lights from one of his eyes.
It is not known if his vision will ever improve and remains “in limbo” about the future.
Matthew played for England Community Lions under-18s and signed for Leeds Rhinos in 2010.
In 2012, he joined Oldham before emigrating to Australia to join the Thirroul Butchers club, who play in the Illawarra Rugby League.
Speaking after the sentence, his brother Tom said: “We wanted a life sentence. The law is the law. But Matty is not the same man any more. It has ruined his life.”
