Trauma soldier attacked new dad
12:00am Thu 31st May 07
Prosecutor Hilary Neville explained that Mr Stevens had been in the nightclub celebrating the birth of his baby.
"He had been to the bar and was making his way back to his friends when he was struck over the head with a bottle," explained Miss Neville.
"He suffered an inch long cut to the back of his head."
Brunning left the club shortly after the attack but was tracked by CCTV and arrested, telling police: "I did it - I bottled a guy."
His victim was left with a Y-shaped cut to his head and since the attack, had taken time off work and was reluctant to go out on an evening.
Defending the Iraq and Northern Ireland veteran, Jonathan Penn called Lieutenant Michael Bysshe as a character reference.
The commanding officer described the 25-year-old as a 'popular and respected soldier' and said his 'disciplinary record carries not one blemish.'
Within two weeks of arriving in the war-torn country, Brunning experienced the death of a close friend and came under daily mortar attacks, regular machine gun fire and roadside bombs.
"Brunning was unfortunate enough to see more friends die than most," said Lieutenant Bysshe.
"I am not saying it to shock you but people outside of the army are not well informed about the harsh reality of what soldiers face."
Brunning, who admitted a charge actual bodily harm, is in the process of being medically discharged from the army due to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Miss Recorder Morris sentenced him to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and 80 hours unpaid work.
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