A local man has been sentenced to 250 hours of community service after he admitted assaulting a man with a plastic glass.

Luigi Walton, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The incident took place during the early hours of 2^nd March 2013. The defendant was in the Salsa Fuego nightclub and was approached by an older man who was upset because his girlfriend was receiving “unwanted attention” from Walton. The two were separated and, at around 5am, they both left the club.

In the area of Market Place, Walton once again encountered the older man and, after another argument, smashed a plastic glass on his chin, causing a 1.5cm laceration which required two stitches.

Walton left the area and was arrested shortly after. He immediately admitted the assault.

Walton’s lawyer, Chris Miles, argued that his client was of good character and the assault represented a “one-off.” He said his client had felt intimidated by the older man and had acted impulsively. Mr Miles described the incident as an example of “excessive self-defence.”

In sentencing, Puisne Judge Karen Prescott said that it was a “heat of the moment” assault. She ordered Walton to undertake 250 hours of unpaid work to be supervised by a probation officer in order to “punish [him] in a constructive manner.”

Johann Fernandez appeared for the Crown.