heel from his eye but did not lose eyesight

A student who stabbed a man in the eye with a Christian Louboutin stiletto heel leaving him with serious injuries has walked free from court.

Shadiya Omar, 22, of Whalley Range, attacked Justin Lloyd, also 22, after he began arguing with her friend as they both waited for a taxi home after a night out in Manchester city centre.

Manchester Crown Court heard Mr Lloyd, from Blackley approached Omar's friend outside the Mercure Hotel in Piccadilly Gardens on October 18, 2014.

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Student Shadiya Omar, 22, (pictured left) of Whalley Range, attacked Justin Lloyd, also 22, (right, following the incident) after he began arguing with her friend as they waited for a taxi home after a night out in Manchester

He offered the woman a crisp but she knocked them out of his hand, so he attempted to pour the packet over her head.

The court heard Omar reacted by rushing to her friend's aid and struck Mr Lloyd in the eye with the designer shoe.

Prosecuting, Jonathan Savage, said: 'He was then struck a single blow to the left eye with an object.

'His next reaction was feeling that he has been hit in the eye and feeling a long object in front of his left eye, he had to pull it out.'

The court heard there was a dispute between the women and Mr Lloyd's group of friends as she attempted to get in a black cab.

Police arrived to the scene and Omar was arrested in a room at the Mercure Hotel where her boyfriend had been staying.

Mr Lloyd was treated at Manchester Royal Infirmary and later the Manchester Eye Hospital for injuries to his left eye.

He was left suffering with bruising, cuts and bleeding to the lower lid, cuts to the upper lid and a fracture to the eye orbit.

A victim impact statement read out in court said Mr Lloyd was forced to quit work as a labourer and has become self-conscious about his scarred eye

The court heard miraculously he did not lose his eyesight, but still suffers with stabbing pains and the psychological after effects.

A victim impact statement read out in court said he was forced to quit work as a labourer and has become conscious of his scarred eye.

Mr Savage said: 'Looking in the mirror every day, he would be constantly having a reminder of the pain he has been suffering.'

Defending, David Morton, said Omar, who pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding, had only removed her shoes because they were hurting and was not intending to use them as a weapon.

He told the court she was only brandishing the heel to stop Mr Lloyd hassling her friend, with no motive to actually strike him in the eye.

He said: 'She acted using excessive self defence, describing the group as intimidating very tall young men who were clearly aware of their level of intoxication.'

Judge Lindsey Kushner QC sentenced Omar to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Omar must also complete six months of unpaid community work and supervision, as well as pay a £100 victim surcharge fee.

Defending, David Morton, said Omar, who pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding, was only brandishing the heel to stop Mr Lloyd hassling her friend, with no motive to actually strike him in the eye

Judge Kushner said: 'I know a shoe is a vicious weapon and you do know now clearly the heel is.

'I accept it was a moment of spontaneity - a spontaneous reaction. It was in a situation of hassling and ostentatious behaviour, as far as your friend was concerned persistent irritation.'

After the case Mr Lloyd said he was enjoying his first ever night out in Manchester city centre for a friend's 21st birthday when the attack took place.

The 22-year-old said he was only joking with the girls when he went to offer his crisps.

After the incident he spent 30 hours in hospital as his eye was stitched up, fearing he would lose his sight.

Mr Lloyd said: 'I felt something in my eye, I felt the stiletto in my eye. I was worried I would lose my sight, at the time I couldn't tell I could just see blood coming out of my eye. It was blurred and even now it is not 100 per cent. It went pitch black.

A victim impact statement read out in court said following the incident Mr Lloyd was forced to quit work as a labourer and has become self-conscious about his scarred eye

'It was weird when I felt it in my eye, I was just in shock.'

Since the attack he said he has lost his confidence and no longer wants to socialise with friends.

Mr Lloyd, who is a labourer, has also struggled to find permanent work as his eyesight problems make it difficult to work on a building site.

He said he believes Omar was just sticking up for her friend, but said it was a 'crazy' way to react.

Mr Lloyd said: 'It is just lucky I have got my eyesight to be honest. 'I am not happy about the sentence. It is quite shocking what she did.

'What she has done, it is a crazy thing, it is scary. She was looking at me, not realising - no remorse.'

'At least it is done and I can get on with my life now.'

His mother Paula Jacobs, 51, said it has been a struggle financially supporting the family on one wage as well as helping her son through the psychological effects.

She said: 'Since the case my son has gone antisocial. He doesn't go to social events.

'My happy-go-lucky lad cheeky chappy boy is now just sitting in his bedroom depressed.'

Mrs Jacobs added she was grateful for the support of Greater Manchester Police throughout the court procedure and is seeking help with counsellors for her son.