A SOLDIER who smashed a glass into another man's face in an unprovoked attack walked free from court today.

Anthony Younger, 24, attacked Scott McArthur in Moloko Bar, Salisbury, on August 24, 2013.

Winchester Crown Court heard Mr McArthur had approached Younger in the packed bar on a busy Saturday night because he had looked angry, and had touched him on the arm and asked what the problem was.

Younger lashed out with his right arm and his glass went into Mr McArthur's face, knocking him to the floor instantly.

Younger then stepped over McArthur aggressively before his friends dragged him away and he left the bar.

He was arrested outside, telling police he had "snapped".

"I can't believe I actually picked up a glass and bottled someone in the face," he said.

Mr McArthur suffered what the judge called a "horrendous injury which resulted in massive amounts of blood to be lost".

The glass tore a deep gash above his eyebrow, cuts to his left cheek and a wound through his top lip.

He spent the night in hospital and left with "clearly visible, permanent scars".

Prosecuting, Rob Welling said: "It was a particularly bloody scene as far as Mr McArthur was concerned."

In a victim impact statement, Mr McArthur, who works as a salesman, said he had been devastated by photos of his injuries.

He said working in sales was "all about image" and his boss had had to tell clients he had been in a car crash.

Mr McArthur was off work for a month, losing around £1,500 in commission.

He said: "I still can't understand why he felt the need to smash the glass in my face."

The defendant claimed Mr McArthur had been "paying him unwanted attention", but the judge, Recorder Jane Rowley, dismissed this, saying: "I don't accept that Mr Younger was the subject of homosexual advances. I think he's flattering himself in drink."

"The first reaction would be that this was a homophobic attack. I accept that it was not, otherwise the sentence would be far more serious."

The pair had already met that night in Weatherspoons in Bridge Street while on separate nights out with friends.

They spoke and Mr McArthur told Younger he he was "quite a handsome young man", the court heard.

They then met again in Moloko, when Mr McArthur said he had been friendly towards Younger, but picked up "no signals of animosity".

He accepted he had placed his hand on Younger's arm, but said it was out of concern.

Defending, Bob Spragg said his client had admitted his guilt at the earliest opportunity, almost 22 months ago.

He said Younger had reacted instinctively, "in the heat of the moment", not realising he had been holding a glass.

"He's extremely remorseful for what has happened," he said, adding that his client wanted the chance to apologise to the victim personally.

The Afghanistan veteran and father of two spent six years in the army, and suffered mental health problems after returning from active service.

Sentencing him to 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, the judge said: "This was a malicious and nasty attack on Mr McArthur who I'm satisfied did nothing to provoke a reaction to what was genuine friendliness.

"You are flattering yourself that, in drink, you felt you were having sexual attention.

"You had drunk too much alcohol and it had affected your judgement and that's why you behaved as you did."

Younger, who now lives in Archer Road, Sunderland, must also pay £2,000 in compensation to the victim, plus £300 costs, and complete 200 hours of unpaid work.