An Aylesford clubber who threw a wine glass at a fellow dancer during a New Year's Eve party before pushing a finger into his eye has avoided jail.

Lee Selwood, known for his "ferocious temper", arrived at Maidstone Crown Court expecting to go straight to prison.

But Judge Julian Smith told the shocked 35-year-old he was sparing him after learning the case had taken three years to get to court.

He said: "You were facing immediate imprisonment when I walked in to the courtroom but it is now coming up to the third anniversary. You are now in employment and this is a chance you have earned."

A previous judge had noted Selwood was facing a sentence in the region of six years - but that was because the police had been planning to charge him with a more serious offence of wounding with intent.

Prosecutor Caroline Knight explained Selwood had pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of unlawful wounding for the 2018 New Year's Eve attack in the Grub and Liquor Nightclub in Nevill Street in Tunbridge Wells.

She said: "Two groups of friends were out celebrating and dancing in their separate groups.

"There came a point when the defendant was dancing near the complainant.

"The defendant was holding a glass of wine which spilled and then he threw the glass into Samuel Cole's face."

Mr Cole later told police he believed that Selwood was dancing too close to him and shoved him out of the way.

"That was the trigger for Selwood to throw the wine and subsequently the glass was smashed on Mr Cole's head causing a wound and then Selwood pushed his finger into the victim's eye, " the prosecutor added.

Selwood has a criminal record containing 34 offences, some for violence

Craig Evans, defending, revealed that after his arrest, Selwood, who now works for a property management company, had been released "under investigation" by police, facing charges of wounding with intent, but not told he would be charged with the lesser offence until November last year.

"The offences go back to almost three years and since then there have been no further offences," he said.

"He had used alcohol in the past as a form of self medication for him to deal with his personal battles."

Selwood was given a 15-month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work for the community.

The judge told him: "In drink you have a ferocious temper and have a tendency to use weapons. You have hurt people in the past.

"But your case has been delayed almost three years and not through your fault.

"I could lock you up on your past record alone but it seems to me that would not be just.

"What is just is to give you a chance because there is a realistic chance of your rehabilitation."

He also ordered him to pay Mr Cole £750 in compensation.

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