DRUNKEN Gawain Murtough walked free from court after he admitted glassing another man in the head in an unprovoked attack.

The 31-year-old attacked clubber David Tomlinson from behind, striking him with a water glass he was holding. Mr Tomlinson needed hospital treatment for a cut to his head.

But magistrates decided to put Murtough on an 18 month probation order after hearing he had not been convicted of an offence involving violence for eight years and might harm himself if he was sent to prison.

They were told that the defendant, who works for EMI, had fears of isolation and rejection during the drunken incident as he had seen his girlfriend kissing the victim.

Frank Murphy, prosecuting, said Mr Tomlinson had gone out with friends on October 5 and was in the Eros nightclub in West Swindon in the early hours of the morning.

"He was standing close to the end of the bar with a young lady, who he believed was the sister of a friend," Mr Murphy said. "From nowhere someone started to punch him. He put his arms up to protect himself and took blows to the hands and elbows.

"He then felt a blow to the head and was aware of bits of glass falling past him. He realised he had been hit with a bottle or a glass. He did not know who had hit him and did nothing to provoke the attack."

Murtough was arrested and told police that he had drunk eight pints of lager before going to the club with his girlfriend where he had a further eight vodka and cokes.

He felt unwell and parted from the group he was with to sit down with a glass of water. He said: "During the evening he said he saw his girlfriend and the injured party kissing and touching each other.

"He punched the injured party and said he had a glass in his hand and it could have struck him. He said it was not deliberate."

The victim was taken to hospital where he was found to be suffering bruising and a cut to the head.

Murtough, of Hythe Road, pleaded guilty to one count of actual bodily harm at a previous hearing.

Tony Nowogrodzki, defending, said: "He is just 31, and from his record there has been no violence since 1993, some eight years ago. This is a matter which is out of character for him."

He said that after drinking all the beer and vodka his client had been sick and was trying to sober up with a glass of water. "His girlfriend made the acquaintance of a gentleman and Mr Murtough then spotted them kissing," he said.

"With the isolation that he clearly feels he acted out of character. He has no long-standing drink problem but we are dealing with someone who binged on the night in question.

"He went over there a couple of times and as his presence wasn't enough to defuse the liaison, he flipped."

As well as putting him on an 18 month probation order, Swindon magistrates ordered Murtough to pay £250 compensation and £118 costs.