A JEALOUS former soldier knocked another man to the floor with "a haymaker" punch while holding a glass or bottle in a Heswall bar.

Gary Whiting, who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder after a comrade died in Afghanistan, has left his victim, Ian Barrar, with a permanently mis-shapen nose.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that 25-year-old Whiting, who served with the Cheshire Regiment, had had a disagreement with Mr Barrar in the Suede Bar in Heswall five months earlier resulting in violence between them after the victim had been talking to Whiting's girlfriend.

In the early hours of February 19 last year Whiting was in the same bar with Miss Parker and he saw her talking to Mr Barrar at the bar.

Iain Criddle, prosecuting, said: "Whiting seems to have become jealous to this and told his partner in no uncertain terms to have nothing to do with him.

"That seemed to be the end of the matter but some minutes later Mr Barrar felt someone grab his shoulder and turned round and was struck by the defendant to the face once, a haymaker type of blow.

"The defendant was holding either a glass or bottle at the time and Mr Barrar was knocked to the floor”.

The victim, also 25, suffered injuries including a gaping one centimetre laceration to is nose which needed two stitches but his nose has been left permanently misshapen.

When interviewed by police Whiting, who had been taken away from the scene by friends, said that he had started drinking excessively after a traumatic incident while in the army.

He said he had little recollection of what happened that night but if Mr Barrar said it happened then it must have done.

Mr Criddle said that in an impact statement the victim said he is now cautious about going out in Heswall and fearful of of meeting the defendant.

He is also self-conscious about his mis-shapen nose.

Whiting, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to wounding Mr Barrar.

Imposing a suspended jail sentence Judge Andrew Menary, QC, said: "Because the course of your behaviour may have something to do with your army service or mental health I am able to draw back from sending you to prison immediately today."

He said: "He (Mr Barrar) had not done anything wrong that night and he was attacked by you and your jealousy was outrageous."

Judge Menary said that on the other hand Whiting had served in Afghanistan and while there a car bomb detonated at the perimeter of the army camp causing a security breach which risked casualties.

"You witnessed a fellow soldier being injured and he subsequently died... I can well understand how that has had a profound effect upon you."

The judge said that he could also understand how his PSTD had led to binge drinking and the unreasonable aggression as displayed that night.

Whitty, who now works as a lab technician, has sought help and the probation service beiieve they may be able to work with him to deal with his issues, he added.

He sentenced him to eight months imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered him to carry out 200 hours unpaid work and carry out 30 days rehabilitation activities.

Whitty was also ordered to pay £300 compensation within three months and the judge imposed a two year restraining order.