A THUG who viciously attacked a man with a bottle has been spared a prison sentence.

Jordan Cooper, of Irvine’s Tollerton Drive, left his victim disfigured as a result of the drunken assault on October 25 in Tofts, Dalry.

He stood trial for the offence at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court but admitted his guilt half-way through the proceedings.

The court heard how Cooper, 20, was on a night out with another male and female in the town centre.

He and one of the witnesses were involved in another incident earlier on in the evening where they were targeted by a group of youths.

All three were drinking heavily and after fleeing the scene, Cooper left behind alcohol as well as his glasses.

Cooper and the witnesses ended up in the Tofts area where they encountered the complainer and his party.

An argument ensued and Cooper attacked the man with a glass bottle, repeatedly striking him on the head.

After previously pleading guilty, Cooper returned to the dock for sentencing following the production of social work reports.

Iain Bradley, defending, told presiding Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane: “My analysis is that the matter would not have occurred at all if it were not for drink being consumed.

“This is one of the better reports that goes before this court.

“He tenders his apologies for the hurt and pain caused and he did offer to make payment of compensation.”

The court previously heard how Cooper had no recollection of the events such was the state of his intoxication.

Sheriff McFarlane gave Cooper a stern warning about his odious behaviour but took a step back from sending him to prison.

She said: “I don’t think that I could be faulted for sending you to prison given what you did.

“But what allows me to step back is because you have now accepted responsibility and shown remorse and some victim empathy.

“I am going to make an order that will keep you very busy, restrict your liberty and make you pay money to the victim.

“I do not think anything you pay will be able to cover what he’s been through.

“I think it makes a gesture to the harm that you’ve caused and that you have scarred him.”

Cooper was handed a Restriction of Liberty Order keeping him indoors between 7pm and 7am.

He was also sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid work.

He was also and ordered to pay his victim £500 in compensation as a direct alternative to a custodial sentence.