A woman who suffered serious head injuries caused by the “horrendous” actions of a former friend says her life has been changed for ever by the attack.

The 24-year-old had a pint glass thrown at her by Lewis Hilton. She said the resulting life-changing injuries have made her a “shadow of her former self”.

Hilton, who the woman previously considered a friend, is now in jail after being found guilty of grievous bodily harm.

In a statement read out at Lewes Crown Court, the woman said: “Since the incident, my life has changed completely. Lewis Hilton and I were friends for at least six years and typically got on very well.

“After Lewis threw the glass at me, I felt completely betrayed by him. My physical and mental health has completely changed as a direct result of the injuries he has caused me.

“One of the biggest ways my life has been affected is in my memory. I have very poor recall and I am not able to easily process new information.

“Whenever I look in the mirror, I feel incredibly upset. The scar on my face is a physical reminder of a terrible event and the injuries have been life changing. I am not myself at all and I feel like my life has been changed for ever.”

Hilton, 26, of Craven Road in Brighton, had been on a night out with the woman on July 16, 2022, and had been drinking and consuming a large amount of cocaine.

At around 3am the woman decided to leave and arranged a lift from Baker Street in Brighton. However, Hilton became agitated and tried to prevent her from going.

Hilton then threw a pint glass of alcohol over her and launched the glass at her. She fell to the floor with a large gash on her head.

She needed hospital treatment and was also found to have suffered a skull fracture and two bleeds on the brain.

Hilton was arrested on July 27 after the matter was reported to the police and subsequently charged with GBH.

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A trial in August found Hilton guilty and, on January 11, he was sentenced to five years in prison and given a five-year restraining order.

During sentencing the victim’s mother described her daughter as a “shadow of her former self”, saying she had “completely changed”.

In her sentencing remarks Judge Janet Waddicor said: “That young woman’s life is going to be very different – it already is and will remain so.

“Her driving licence has been withdrawn and there is no evidence that she will be able to find and hold down a job.

“She previously had been very sociable and that has changed too. All of this is because that night you were so drunk and so affected by drugs. All of that is because of your behaviour.”

Sussex Police Detective Sergeant Josh Bellamy said: “Lewis Hilton has been rightly convicted and imprisoned following a horrendous assault against a victim who considered him a friend.

“Hilton tried to hide behind his voluntary consumption of alcohol and cocaine as being an excuse for his actions.

“The victim – who is only 24 - has been left with permanent scars which are visible reminders of what happened that night. Despite the significant injuries he caused to his own friend, he maintained that he had been unjustly treated and that he was not ultimately responsible for his actions.”