AN EX-SOLDIER has been ordered to pay compensation to a pub drinker who he attacked with a beer glass.

Joshua Sanchez lashed out with a full pint glass in his hand after the two men jostled each other as they walked through the Lansdowne in Dawlish.

He was serving in the Coldstream Guards at the time and was in Devon on leave when he carried out the glassing on May 2, 2019.

CCTV from the pub showed the two men walking close to each other as they went out of view of the camera and the splash of the spilled beer a few moments later.

The footage showed victim Jordan Brine in high spirits and walking with past the bar with his arms out just before the attack.

He staggered away after being hit with the glass while other customers got into a bundle with Sanchez and a friend who was with him. 

He later claimed he had lashed out in self defence because he thought he saw a knife. He also told police he was attacked in the street after being thrown out of the pub.

Sanchez, aged 24, of Aylesworth Spur, Windsor, admitted wounding and was jailed for 21 months, suspended for two years by Judge Peter Johnson at Exeter Crown Court.

He was ordered to do 80 hours of unpaid work and ten days of rehabilitation activities and pay £1,200 compensation and £600 costs.

The judge told him: ‘Mr Brine’s behaviour might be described as boisterous and irritating for other customers and it seems he barged into you.

‘You pleaded guilty on the basis you thought he might have a knife but you now accept he did not have. You used a glass which caused serious injury to his face.’

Mr Brian Fitzherbert, prosecuting, said there was a confrontation when one of the men accused the other of barging into him and the other told him to f*** off.

Sanchez swung a glass which hit Mr Brine in the face and caused a gash which is likely to leave a permanent scar.

He left before police arrived but other customers knew his name and police traced him through the army.

Miss Mary McCarthy, defending, said Sanchez served in the Coldstream Guards from the age of 17 and left with an honourable discharge. He has a letter of reference from the Major who commanded him.

He left the army shortly after this incident and now works as a roofer. He has given up drinking alcohol for the past nine months and settled down with his partner.

Miss McCarthy said the victim had been behaving in a lairy way before this incident and Sanchez over-reacted because he thought he saw a knife.