A DRUNKEN soldier who hit a colleague with a bottle has been spared jail because he has to serve in Iraq.

John William Adams, 25, of Vimy Barracks, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, struck soldier Robert Urry with the bottle, leaving him with deep lacerations across the bridge of his nose.

Judge Les Spittle said it was not in the public interest to give Adams a custodial sentence because it would mean he could not be called-up for duty and it would end his Army career.

Teesside Crown Court heard that both men had been drinking. Adams said he had drunk about nine vodka Red Bulls and a number of bottles of lager.

Graeme Gaston, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court the attack happened at Jesters Bar, Catterick Garrison, on January 7.

He said Mr Urry had been seen giving Adams verbal abuse.

Mr Gaston said: "Without warning, the defendant smashed a bottle to the side of his head."

The injury to Mr Urry's nose ended his hopes of becoming a professional boxer, the court heard.

When Adams was arrested, he said he could not recall the assault.

Jo Kidd, for Adams, who admitted wounding, said he had impeccable previous conduct.

She said Adams will be posted to Iraq in November with his battalion, which was already short of men.

Judge Spittle said Adams was the worse for drink and had lashed out and hit Mr Urry with one blow.

He said he was treating Adams as an exception because it was in the greater public interest.

Adams was ordered to undertake 100 hours of community punishment and ordered to pay £643 costs.