A TRAINEE nurse who rammed a beer glass into the face of a man in a nightclub has been spared jail.

Laura Maloney was told by a judge that her attack on Michael Taylor deserved to be marked with a spell behind bars.

But Recorder Simon Hickey said he would suspend the sentence because of Maloney's "impeccable" past and obvious remorse.

Recorder Mr Hickey told Maloney: "You know more than anyone how dangerously you reacted that night, and how close it might have been for Mr Taylor losing his eye.

"You must know - in the job you hope to complete - how often it is that you and your colleagues are assaulted late at night in accident and emergency by people in drink, yet there you are acting in the same way.

"You know the shame this has brought on you, but I am confident that you will not trouble this court again."

Teesside Crown Court yesterday heard 23-year-old Maloney described as an asset to any team she worked in and of great potential.

Jonathan Walker, mitigating, said her hopes of progressing in nursing have been delayed - and possibly ruined - by her court appearance.

The court heard that Maloney launched the attack on Mr Taylor at the bar of the Crown nightclub, in Middlesbrough town centre, at 1am on April 22.

Maloney had been drinking all evening with colleagues to celebrate the end of their studies, and had consumed an "amazing" amount of alcohol, said Mr Walker.

"She is an industrious, bright young woman who on 99.9 per cent of occasions is entirely respectful and properly well-behaved," he said. "This was one crazy moment of drink-fuelled stupidity which she will pay for heavily."

Taylor, who was with his girlfriend, suffered two deep cuts to his face, just under his left eye, which left him with blurred vision.

Sarah Margree, prosecuting, told the court a woman customer, was showered with shards from the glass.

Ms Magree said Maloney shouted obscenities at Mr Taylor because she believed he was being served before her at the busy bar.

Maloney, of Keswick Road, Middlesbrough, admitted causing grevious bodily harm and was given a nine-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

She was also ordered to undergo probation service supervision for 12 months and pay Mr Taylor £500 compensation.