A REVELLER who turned into a "madman" at a charity fundraising party, attacking his girlfriend and guests, was spared jail.

Stuart Milward punched his girlfriend in the face, bit her sister on her arm and lashed out at other guests with his fists and a kitchen knife.

The 27-year-old, from Beech Avenue, Melksham, later claimed he had no memory of the violent fracas in the early hours of September 14, 2003.

A doctor suggested he may have been slipped a drug but a jury convicted him of two charges of common assault, two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one charge of affray at Bristol Crown Court last month.

Outlining the case at a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, David Martin, prosecuting, said the incident happened at an all-night party in Temple Cloud, Bristol.

He said: "There was an assault on his girlfriend Claire Adams, violence and aggressive words.

"She got out of the tent and several males were alerted and there was a bit of a fracas."

Geraint Owen was punched in the face while another reveller Matthew Dawber was attacked with a knife, which Milward had got from the kitchen. Miss Adams sister was also bitten.

Andrew MacFarlane, defending, said: "Mr Milward said he could not remember any of the events in question. His behaviour was described as that of a mad man and he was completely and utterly perplexed."

Judge David Ticehurst ordered Milward to serve a 240-hour community punishment order.