A DRUNKEN soldier who launched an unprovoked attack on a pensioner outside a town centre pub says he will be drummed out of the forces if he gets any form of jail.

Kieran Biddle was so off his head on booze he could not recall assaulting the 76-year-old at The Savoy in Regent Street, Swindon, on March 19.

The 20-year-old who is training with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers then assaulted another man about half an hour later.

When Biddle, who is close to finishing his training with the regiment based at Lyneham, saw CCTV of the attack he branded himself a 'coward'.

The court heard that if he is jailed, or even put on a suspended sentence, his army career will be at an end before it has properly begun.

Biddle, of Corby, Northants, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and assault by beating when he appeared at Swindon Crown Court.

Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, told the court that while the two assaults took place on the same evening about half an hour apart, they were separate incidents.

She said the pensioner was left with 'multiple facial factures' and may have suffered lasting nerve damage.

Ellen McAnaw, defending, said her client could not explain why he behaved how he did, apart from the impact of alcohol.

She said "He has no recollection of the incident. He is extremely remorseful. When he was shown the CCTV he immediately said 'Yes, that is me'.

"He became terribly tearful, apologised and said he had no ides why he acted like a coward that night. Apart from the alcohol he is at a loss to explain why this happened."

She said that he had no entries on his conduct sheet in the services and had not been in trouble with the police before.

He has written a letter of apology to the victim, she said, which has been handed to the police in the hope they will pass it on.

She told the court that were he to receive a jail term, or even a suspended sentence, he would be thrown out of the forces.

The judge was told that Biddle had been in the army for about a year and had completed his basic training.

He is now about three months away from finishing his training as a vehicle mechanic after which he will join the field army.

Judge Robert Pawson adjourned the case so that the probation service can compile a full pre-sentence report on Biddle.

He said: "I make it plain having read the victim personal statement setting out the impact and the consequences of what you did it is, on any view, a very serious matter.

"The fact that I am readmitting you to bail unconditionally, and that there is a pre-sentence report, should not be taken as any indication of what the sentence will be."