A thug threw a pint glass in the face of another man after a row erupted over a friend's hat.
Andrew Cairns, 23, and the victim had both been drinking separately at The Black & Gold social club in Berwick, Northumberland.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how Cairns, who was 21 at the time, went over to the victim's group and took a hat from the head of one of his friends.
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Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said the victim didn't believe Cairns had any intention of keeping the hat but he thought he may have been trying to start trouble. He said: "He walked over and asked him to return the hat."
The prosecutor told the court how this angered Cairns and he stood up and said "What are you going to do about it? He then pushed the victim, causing him to stumble backwards.
Mr Pallister said: "The defendant than approached him again, as if he intended to attack him, and as a result (the victim) defended himself by throwing a punch, and created some space between the two men.
"At that point the defendant, a short distance away, picked up an empty pint glass and threw it at (the victim)."
The glass struck him above his left eye, which resulted in pain and a cut measuring 5cm by 4cm.
Mr Pallister said Cairns then approached the man again and the victim threw another punch, striking him in the face, to avoid any further attack.
The court in Newcastle heard how the victim required hospital treatment, which included 14 stitches and local anaesthetic. He was also left with a scar above his eyebrow, following the incident on April 24, 2021.
In a victim impact statement, read to the court by Mr Pallister, the victim said: "I feel lucky that the glass didn't break because my injuries could been considerably worse and could have blinded me."
Mr Pallister told the court how Cairns was interviewed by police and admitted throwing the glass. However he claimed he had thrown the glass backwards over his shoulder and it had hit the victim in the head.
Cairns, of Cragview Road, Belford, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding. The court heard how he had no previous convictions.
Brian Hegarty, defending, told the court how Cairns said he knew the man which he taken the hat from.
He said the victim appears to have got the wrong end of the stick and took it upon himself to confront him.
He said: "The defendant himself is appalled that he finds himself in front of the court today. This is not a defendant who ordinarily behaves in this way. It appears this was a very short lived incident that blew up very quickly."
Mr Hegarty that Cairns behaved in a way that was "completely out of character". He said: "There's been no trouble in his history in the past and nor has there been since.
"I would like to apologise for the actions of the defendant, now over two years ago."
Judge Sarah Mallett told Cairns: "It was extremely fortunate for him, and for you, that the glass didn't break.
"I am satisfied that this behaviour was completely out of character for you and you have had a long time to consider your position and move forward with life in various ways. I do accept that your apology was genuine."
The judge sentenced Cairns to 12 months in prison suspended for 21 months. She ordered him to pay £400 compensation to the victim and complete 50 hours of unpaid work.
Judge Mallett warned him: "If you come back you get locked up, do you understand?"
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