Thug admits smashing glass into face of ex-Leeds Rhino star ‘blinding him in both eyes’ in horrific Boxing Day brawl – as victim’s family demands attacker is jailed for life

A thug has admitted smashing a glass into another man’s face during a violent attack at a nightclub on Boxing Day, leaving his victim fearing he would never see his children again.

Gareth Dean, 37, attacked Matthew Syron as he walked back from the toilet at Revolución de Cuba in Leeds city center on December 26.

Mr Syron was visiting his family in Britain after moving to Sydney, Australia, 11 years ago when the attack happened.

The 32-year-old former Leeds Rhinos rugby league player underwent emergency surgery on both eyes and is now receiving treatment for his injuries in the hope that he will not be left permanently blind.

And now Mr Syron’s furious family have demanded the brutal attacker is given a life sentence after changing his life forever.

Mr Syron was rushed to Leeds Infirmary where he underwent emergency surgery

Mr Syron underwent emergency surgery on both eyes, but his sight has still not returned more than a week after the incident. Pictured: Mr. Syron in a medical chair after his surgery

Dean, from Colton, Leeds, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent when he appeared at Leeds Crown Court today. He will be sentenced on March 4.

Mr Syron, father of three-year-old Brixon and one-year-old Meka Rose, worries he will never be able to see the faces of his children or partner again due to the severity of his injuries.

And he says the planned short visit to see the newest members of his family has turned his life “upside down”.

He said: ‘It’s so hard to understand to be honest. I live in a place where you can’t physically glass someone, the glasses are all plastic after 10pm. You must be a low-life who would glass someone.

‘My life has been turned upside down. This was supposed to be a quick trip to hug my brothers, see old friends, and fly home to work.

“They took my life and broke it into a million pieces, and I’m just trying to put it back together.”

‘I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, not my worst enemy, I wouldn’t want to take their sight away. I can’t even look my mother in the face. It’s soul destroying.

“I keep it together for the people around me. They are not in my shoes, but see me suffering.’

Mr Syron pictured with his partner Keone Rawiri, 30, and their children Brixon, 3, and Meka-Rose, 1

Mr Syron was rushed to Leeds Infirmary where he underwent emergency surgery

Mr Syron fears he will never be able to see his partner Keone (right) or his children Brixon (left) and Meka-Rose (right)

The electrician was finishing his night out in Leeds and had decided to go home, saying he had only entered the bar because he had not been there before.

He continued: “I walked in and saw some old friends at the bar who I played rugby with over eleven years ago. It brought back so many good memories and we had a good time.

‘I went to the toilet and then went back to my youngest brother. I went to talk to him, but suddenly someone came to me, gave me glasses and ran away.

‘I don’t know the person, I’ve never spoken to him. It’s such a hateful thing to do, such a cowardly thing to do.”

Following the attack, Mr Syron was rushed to Leeds General Infirmary and underwent emergency surgery to help stop the bleeding, including 27 stitches in his right eye and ten stitches in his left eye.

Last month, doctors desperately tried to save Matthew’s sight, but the father fears his sight may be gone forever. But he says the optic nerve has remained intact, which may offer hope for the future.

Speaking about Dean’s plea, Matthew’s brother Tom Syron told LeedsLive: ‘He should go down for life, he’s ruined my brother’s life.

’10 years would be a slap on the wrist for the damage he has caused, he has permanently damaged my brother, his life will never be the same.

‘We can’t change anything now. What’s done is done. The least Matthew deserves is justice.”