A Royal Marine who served in Afghanistan was blinded in one eye by two soldiers who jumped him and a colleague outside a Plymouth nightclub and subjected them to a "totally unprovoked and vicious attack", a court heard.

Marine Martin Jones was waiting at a burger van with fellow marine Ray Simmons when William Press and Alexander Thompson, who serve with the Royal Logistics Corps - based at Buckley Barracks in Chippenham, launched a violent and unprovoked attack from behind, which left the naval servicemen unconscious on the ground, the court heard.

The trial of the two soldiers at Plymouth Crown Court was today shown CCTV of the attack outside the city's Oceana nightclub - which appeared to show Thompson, 25, attack Marine Jones with such ferocity that at one point he lost his balance and fell over as punches and kicks rained down on him.

Marine Simmons, who was also knocked unconscious, escaped with minor injuries but Mne Jones suffered damage to his right eye, six fractures to his eye socket and a fractured cheekbone. He was later declared medically blind in the damaged eye.

Giving evidence, the young marine, wearing glasses, said he and his friend had been returning from the nightclub to the hotel they were staying in when they were attacked while Mne Simmons waited for his food.

"I remember a fist hitting Ray in the face, it knocked him to the floor"

he said. He said he was also knocked to the ground, adding: "I remember one blow was a lot harder than the rest. I think that is when I lost the sight in my right eye."

Both soldiers had arrived in the Devon city for a training course on December 1, 2010, and went for a night out after it finished.

Press, 26, fled the scene, the court heard, and was arrested on February 7 the following year. He refused to answer any questions when interviewed.

David Gittins, prosecuting, said there had been no justification for the attack. "It may be that the principal offence was committed by Thompson, who was doing the kicking. But we say Press is also responsible for the injuries because they were acting together," he said.

Thompson, from Ashtead in Surrey, and Press, from Buckley Barracks, Chippenham, both deny GBH with intent and GBH. Thompson also denies a charge of attempted GBH, which Press has admitted. The trial continues.