A 22-year-old gas fitter who smashed a glass into another man’s face in a jealous rage in a Stourbridge bar has been spared jail.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard this morning how James Abbey saw Todd Mann talking to his girlfriend in Lloyds Bar, High Street, and “completely misread the situation”.

He punched Mann before striking him in the face with the pint glass causing a number of wounds, including a two inch gash to his ear lobe which had to be glued.

Abbey, of Campion Grove, Halesowen, admitted wounding and was given a 35 week jail sentence suspended for two years.

He was further ordered to carry out 120 hours community punishment and made the subject of a two month curfew between the hours of 8pm and 7am.

Judge Rose Bush further told Abbey he must pay Mann £150 in compensation for his injuries together with £192 costs.

Michael Anning, defending, told the court Abbey was a man of previous good character and said alcohol was the key factor in the attack.

He said the defendant had downed lager and cider at home and continued to drink at the pub which impaired his judgement.

Abbey then became angry when he saw Mann talking to his girlfriend and later told police: “I was out of order and disrespectful to the people around me.

“I did not think of the consequences of my actions.”

Judge Bush told Abbey she was prepared to take a “nearly exceptional course” in the case and not send him straight to prison.

The judge said: “It is clear to me this is very sad story and one that is all too familiar these days - a young man who had been drinking far too much and became angry and violent.”

She said she accepted Abbey had never been in trouble before with the police and had “shown a considerable insight” into the offence.