A SOLDIER who assaulted two foreign workers after an all-day drinking binge has walked free from court so he can return to the frontline in Afghanistan.

Lee Anson was spared jail after a Teesside Crown Court judge heard a custodial sentence would see the 22-yearold kicked out of the Army.

Anson’s barrister, Louise Reevell, said his regiment, the Mercian Regiment, is so short of experienced troops that his loss would be keenly felt.

His commanding officer, Lieutenant Michael Coyne, said: “We have junior Lance Corporals, but the experience required for this theatre, it is just not worth the risk.”

Yesterday’s case was heard only hours after it was revealed that nearly 5,000 soldiers and officers – one in five infantry personnel – are unfit for combat duties.

Mrs Reevell told the court Anson will be downgraded to a private, but will still carry out the duties for which he was chosen.

He will be deployed with his regiment in March, for a sixmonth tour of Afghanistan, where he will be the second in command of a four-man strike battle group.

The court heard that Anson, based at Alma Barracks, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, has a previous conviction for common assault in 2007, and a court martial for insubordination.

On September 18, 2008, he launched an unprovoked attack on Portuguese cleaners Joao Leconte, 33, and Luis Hortelao, 31, at the Town Hall pub in Richmond.

He fractured Mr Leconte’s cheekbone with a single punch, before repeatedly hitting Mr Hortelao after knocking him to the ground in the toilets.

Anson admitted causing grievous bodily harm and assault causing actual bodily harm, and was given a 12- month community order with probation service supervision.

He must also carry out 40 hours of unpaid community work and pay a total of £2,000 compensation to the two men.

Judge David Bryant told him: “Were you not a member of the armed service to whom a custodial sentence would have very grave consequences, a custodial sentence would probably result.

“It seems to me I am entitled to take into consideration the fact that you have served your country in Northern Ireland, Iraq and the Falklands and are about to do so in Afghanistan.”