A FRIEND of a Tory councillor has escaped jail for hurling a glass at another man's head.

Mark Turner, 23, of Glyndebourne Park, Orpington, falsely claimed that he worked for The Daily Telegraph newspaper before throwing the pint glass at off duty rail engineer David Crammond.

He attacked his 50-year-old victim as he left a train at Orpington station after a night out drinking.

The injured Mr Crammond, who was on his way home to Ashford, chased after his attacker, wrestled him to the platform floor and detained him until police arrived.

Turner, who is a friend of Bexley councillor David Leaf and works for the public sector company Liberata, turned violent after Mr Crammond asked him to stop smoking on the train, Southwark Crown Court heard.

He told his victim: "I work for the Daily Telegraph, I can do what I want."

A short while later Mr Crammond saw Turner holding a lit cigarette against one of the seats on the late night train from Charing Cross to Orpington.

Linda Shamel, prosecuting, said the victim got up, took the cigarette out of Turner's hand and stubbed it out.

The rest of the journey was uneventful until the train pulled into Orpington station.

As Turner and a friend walked past Mr Crammond to leave the train, he said: "Have a nice day."

Mr Crammond replied: "And to you."

Turner turned around and threw the glass which he had carried onto the train towards him.

Mr Crammond tried to duck out of the way but the glass shattered on his forehead and his right cheek, causing several cuts.

Blood poured onto his jacket and shirt.

After Turner's arrest, the victim was taken to Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, suffering from minor head injuries.

Sally Fudge, defending Turner, said he had been upset at failing to get a job on the day in question, last November.

She said he had been taking medication and drinking before the incident and had thrown the glass without intending to hit Mr Crammond.

Ms Fudge said: "He accepts that he had been drinking more than he normally did that night."

She handed the judge a letter from Cllr Leaf in mitigation for her client, who she said was a close friend of the young councillor.

Judge Testar said: "Normally people who attack other people with a glass go to prison and the reason for that is a glass is a very dangerous weapon and there are glasses everywhere."

He added: "It is very fortunate that the injuries from the glass itself were minor."

The victim also suffered a dislocated thumb and a sprained wrist while grappling with his attacker, the court heard.

The judge gave Turner a nine month suspended prison sentence for two years and ordered him to do 60 hours unpaid work in the community.

He also ordered him to pay Mr Crammond £1,400 compensation and £200 legal costs within the next six months.