A dad who glassed a pal has escaped jail after a court heard how he had been drinking on prescription drugs.

Peter Kibblewhite had been causing trouble in a pub before smashing a pint pot into the head of a friend who was acting as a peacemaker.

And when he was questioned by police the 38-year-old said he could remember little of the night after having four or five pints' on top of the medication.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon crown court victim Robert Duncan had gone to his local pub, The Manor, on Cheney Manor Road, on the evening of Friday March 30.

He knew many of the people in the busy pub including the defendant who he had known for about 16 years.

Mr Meeke said "He became aware that this defendant was being less than sensible about things. Someone wouldn't shake his hand or he wouldn't shake someone's hand and things became ugly."

He said the defendant was then in an argument about the pool table before causing offence to two young women.

"He started flailing his arms around and being silly. Mr Duncan went to speak to him and be the peacemaker.

"He put a hand on his shoulder and told him to leave it and started ushering him away. It is clear from all the evidence that Mr Duncan was being just that; a peacemaker. Mr Kibblewhite was making a thorough nuisance of himself."

As Mr Duncan tried to calm the situation Kibblewhite became aggressive to him and as he walked away smashed a pint glass into the top of his head causing a deep laceration.

As a result of the attack Mr Meeke said the victim lost a great deal of blood from and arterial bleed and needed six sutures in the wound.

When he was questioned he said he woke up the next day with cuts to his hands and could remember little of what happened.

Mr Meeke said "He remembered being in the pub. He remembered vignettes as it were; flashbacks."

Kibblewhite, of Ripley Road, Old Town, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding.

Rob Ross, defending, said his client deeply regretted what had happened that night and had since addressed his drinking.

Kibblewhite had been taking prescription medication, he said, and then gone to the pub and had four or five pints when he should not really have been drinking.

The drugs he was on would make him disinhibited and irritable, he said, especially if mixed with alcohol.

Mr Ross said his client was currently caring for his two children as well as holding down a full time job.

Passing sentence Judge Lester Boothman said "What has saved you from an immediate custodial sentence is the fact that you were taking prescribed medication and I accept you may have misunderstood or misinterpreted the effect that would have had at the time.

"Had you been taking illegal drugs plus alcohol you would have gone straight to prison today."

He imposed a nine month jail term suspended for two years and ordered him to do 275 hours of community service and pay £1,000 compensation.