A drunken thug who escaped a jail sentence for glassing a friend in the neck at a nightclub was ordered not to brag about it on social media.

Jamie Atkins was told by a judge: "Be warned: I don't expect to see anything on Facebook, Twitter and the like saying this is some sort of pyrrhic victory."

Judge Heather Baucher also cautioned the 25-year-old hotel receptionist about breaching the terms of the suspended sentence order she imposed.

"Blow your nose the wrong way and you will be back here and this sentence will be put into operation," she added.

Atkins was said to have been in a platonic relationship with Thomas Boorman for about a month, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

Mr Boorman suggested they went out to a nightclub on December 17 last year and agreed to pay for Atkins as he had just returned from travelling and did not have any money.

Atkins, of Cornflower Close, Grove Green, Maidstone, downed a total of about 10 pints during the evening.

While at the nightclub he became jealous of Mr Boorman's "interaction" with another friend.

“That continued on and off throughout the night,” said prosecutor Iestyn Morgan.

“He displayed jealous behaviour. There came a point when Mr Boorman decided to leave without him.”

When Atkins protested he would not be able to get home, Mr Boorman offered him £10.

Atkins said it was not enough. Mr Boorman said it was all he had.

He left but returned because he had forgotten his coat. As he was about to leave Atkins asked why he was going.

Mr Boorman explained he had not been very fair to him and he had had enough.

"Mr Atkins became irate," said Mr Morgan.

"Then he threw several punches, taking him by surprise and hitting him hard. He was holding a pint glass in his other hand.

"He then hit him on the back of the neck very hard with the glass, causing it to smash. Afterwards, Mr Boorman was numb."

Atkins told security staff he had hit the victim accidentally, adding: "He wanted to leave me alone in Medway."

Mr Boorman was taken to hospital, where glass was removed from his neck. As well as a cut, he had a lump on the back of his head.

Atkins admitted unlawful wounding and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for two years, with 300 hours unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay the victim £500 compensation.

Judge Baucher told him: “You had a few drinks. Thereafter, you became drunk, drunk, drunk. You described yourself as so drunk you could hardly stand.

“With the glass in your left hand, having hit him with your right, you decided to smash him on the head. It is the sort of thing this court sees day in day out.

“It is a very serious offence. We just can’t have it. The only blessing is what the nurse said to Mr Boorman - it could have been much worse.

“I was very concerned about it, because you are of hitherto good character. This case has exercised me long and hard.

“See that door by the prison officer? He will take you downstairs and wait for the prison van to come and a strip search will be carried out after you go into custody.

"Blow your nose the wrong way and you will be back here and this sentence will be put into operation" - Judge Heather Baucher

“Make no mistake about it, this definitely passes the custody threshold. It is definitely a case where a custodial sentence is merited.

“But I take into account your good character in particular. That has weighed heavily on my mind. Also, the length of the incident. You used the glass at the very last moment.

“The reality is the injuries thankfully were modest...not what one would normally expect to see. You will make your reparation to society.”

The judge added: “Any breach at all I want him back here. He just doesn’t know how close he came to going downstairs.”

Also imposing 30 days rehabilitation, Judge Baucher said: “The court doesn’t expect to see you back here.”

Michael Golmulka, defending, said the attack could have led to tragic consequences.

“He was very drunk,” he said.

“He didn’t appreciate he had the glass in his left hand when he struck the blow.

“He is someone who is gentle, kind and caring. It is entirely out of character. This has had a sobering effect on this young man.”

Atkins had said: "I was very drunk. I had a drunken kind of reason for doing it. I am really sorry."