A STAG night reveller was jailed for eight months for cutting a York pub employee's face with a beer bottle.

Martin Rudland, prosecuting, told York Crown Court the Nag's Head in Micklegate was crowded with racegoers on October 13 as staff tried to eject Philip James Porter and his boisterous friends.

Porter hurled a beer bottle through the air. It hit pub employee John Thompson just above one eye, causing a gash that needed three stitches.

"These offences are often committed by young men in similar situations to yourself, otherwise of good character, in work," the Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman told Porter. "They get drunk, they get irate and they use a weapon such as a bottle. The courts have got to do what they can."

He jailed Porter for eight months. Porter, 27, of Dadley Road, Carlton-in-Lindrick, Notts, admitted causing actual bodily harm.

Mr Rudland said Porter had had 12 drinks. He and his friends were jumping up and down holding on to each other and obstructing the disc jockey. Defence barrister Steven Pidcock said Porter had come to York for a stag night. The group had been to York races during the day and then visited several pubs. They were dancing to a record by The Clash and were not preparing for violence.

Porter had not thrown the bottle deliberately at Mr Thompson. Drink had blotted out his memory of the evening.

Updated: 13:25 Saturday, May 25, 2002