A drinker who smashed a glass into a former colleague's face in a drunken attack has walked free from court.

Daniel Bull, of Rose Street, Rodbourne, lashed out with the glass in a nightclub in a case of mistaken identity leaving his victim with a cut mouth.

But the 27-year-old, who has a previous conviction for actual bodily harm, was put on a suspended sentence by a judge at Swindon Crown Court.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, said Michael Boguszewicz had gone out with his brother on the evening of Saturday March 10 into the following morning.

She said they were in a club when the victim recognised the defendant as someone he used to work with and they exchanged words.

Later on she said the two men found themselves at the top of a flight of stairs which led to the ground floor of the club.

She said events then became a bit confused but the prosecution could not dispute Bull's version of what then took place.

He claimed he was pulled from behind by somebody causing a tear to his clothing and minor scratches to his neck.

"The defendant seems to have formed the view that Michael Boguszewicz was responsible for that and turned and started arguing and struggling with him," she said.

In the ensuing melee Bull was seen to use his right hand to smash a glass into the side of his victim's face.

The impact caused a deep cut to the left hand corner of Mr Boguszewicz's mouth about two inches in length with a flap of skin hanging off which needed a number of sutures.

When he was questioned Bull said he had been so drunk he had little appreciation of what had happened.

She said "He acknowledged he had bee involved in an incident, acknowledged he was drunk and could remember flashes of it.

"To be fair to him when the injuries were described he said he felt terrible saying I never ever meant to do anything like that'."

Bull, who was convicted of actual bodily harm in November 2002, pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful wounding.

David Martin, defending, said "The major part of the basis of plea is that the defendant punched out without thinking a glass was in his hand.

"His drunkenness and drunk state is no excuse and getting himself in a position where by instinct he reacted in such a way.

"He deeply regrets being involved. He wishes me to apologise both to the victim and to the court.

"He misread the situation in his drunk state. It is no fault of the man who was injured that it happened to him."

Recorder Neil Ford QC said "You have pleaded guilty and expressed genuine remorse. Nonetheless this is a very serious matter."

He imposed a nine month jail term suspended for 18 months and ordered him to do 200 hours of community service, go on an anger replacement programme and pay £500 compensation.