A drunken reveller has narrowly avoided jail after smashing two men over the head with a beer bottle during a night out in Maidstone.

Max Shepherd lashed out at Oliver Macdonald and Daniel Smith in a seemingly unprovoked attack in the early hours of the morning.

Maidstone Magistrates’ Court heard the 18-year-old, from Surrey, had come to the town with a group of friends as they had heard it was a fun place to go out and were celebrating a birthday.

Deborah Jones, prosecuting, said the delivery driver can be seen on CCTV walking up to a group of people with the glass bottle in his hand. He moves away but then comes back and can be seen smoking and swaying.

She added: "Out of nowhere he lunges at Mr Smith, hitting him over the head and following through to catch Mr Macdonald on the ear."

The pair had to be taken to a nearby medical tent and then to hospital where Mr Smith was treated for a cut to his head and Mr Macdonald was checked over after complaining of ear pain.

Shepherd, who had been drinking Jack Daniel’s and Coke all night, gave a no comment interview and still claims to not recall the incident.

Miss Jones said Shepherd, who admitted assault, would have been dealt with in crown court if it hadn't been for his early guilty plea.

Vicky Hart, defending, added he knew he was lucky to not have been charged with a more serious offence.

Shepherd was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for a year, and ordered to pay £500.

Imposing a six-month curfew to stay at home between 8pm and 6am, chair of the bench Graham Berry said: “Every time you’re stuck at home watching boring television while your friends are out drinking their Jack Daniel’s and cokes, you can reflect on how serious this was."