A YOUNG soldier wept in the dock as he avoided jail for glassing his friend during a drunken brawl.

Nelson man Malcolm Driver, of Normandy Barracks, Leconfield, sobbed at Burnley Crown Court after judge Jonathan Gibson spared him the loss of his armed forces career by deciding against imposing a prison sentence.

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The 21-year-old had earlier pleaded guilty to affray after hitting Mark Fagan in the Lord Nelson pub, in Manchester Road, Nelson, in August.

The court heard Driver had been drinking with his brother, and Fagan. Fagan accused Driver of making a derogatory comment before throwing a punch at his brother, prosecutor Stephen Parker said.

“The defendant waded in with a glass and hits Mr Fagan in the head with it,” he said.

CCTV footage showed Mr Fagan with blood pouring out of a head wound.

Defending, John Woodward said: “When interviewed, the defendant could not remember the incident. He was 10 out of 10 drunk.

“When he was shown the footage he started crying. He said they had always been mates and was very upset.”

Judge Gibson ordered Driver was ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work, and undertake sentenced him to a 12-month community order and 12 month supervision orders.

He said: “You have no previous convictions and you are well thought of by the army authorities.

“You are a person of otherwise good character, this was an isolated incident, and you have shown a determination to address your behaviour.”