A COUNCIL worker who bit a chunk out of a wannabe male model's face during an attack in a pub toilet has been spared jail.

Kevin Gaullier left his victim with a 'savage' injury after sinking his teeth into him at Whacky Wednesday Karaoke night at The Victoria in Old Town.

But after hearing how the 28-year-old, who has been involved in violent offending before, cried throughout questioning a judge imposed a suspended sentence.

Adam Norris, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how the incident took place around midnight on Wednesday June 8 into the following morning.

Victim Sam Mazzotta claimed he had gone to the gents' where two men were arguing and he was hit and ended up on the floor with Gaullier on top of him.

He said the defendant sank his teeth into his bottom lip causing a popping sound, like a water balloon bursting, biting off a 2cm by 2cm chunk of flesh.

Mr Mazzotta said he pushed Gaullier, who had also bitten one of his fingers, off him and then ran away where door staff saw him bleeding heavily.

Meanwhile Gaullier nipped home to change his top and clean the blood off him and returned to the pub, where he was later arrested.

Mr Norris said the third man in the toilets, who was initially unwilling to speak to the police, told a different story.

He said a fight broke out between the two men and he tried to separate them with Gaullier on to of Mr Mazzotta.

When he was questioned the defendant was unable top recall what had happened, though it was clear he was upset as he was crying.

However when the case came to court he had remembered that Mazzotta had thrown a punch at him and he then set about him in retaliation, punching and biting him.

Mr Norris said as a result of the bite the victim, who had recently signed up with a model agency, lost a 2cm by 2cm chunk of lip which healed without the need for surgery.

Gaullier, of Union Street, Old Town, admitted actual bodily harm. The court heard he was put on a suspended sentence for affray in 2008.

Tony Bengal, defending, said his client had genuine remorse and was using cocaine and drinking too much at the time.

If he were jailed he said he would lose his job as a planner, working for the council, and would be at risk of coming out worse than he went in.

Judge Robert Parson said "I don't know who made the decision to charge you with actual bodily harm but many people, if they had been in charge of this case and made the charging decision, would have charged you with wounding with intent and left it to the jury.

"Had you been convicted of wounding with intent the starting pint for sentence would have been six years.

"But you were charged with actual bodily harm and that is the basis upon which you will be sentenced."

Imposing an 18 month suspended sentence he said "Custody in your case in fact might increase the risk of reconviction."

He also ordered he pay £1,000 compensation, a three month curfew and 30 days rehabilitation activity requirement.

"I see no reason why you shouldn't pay compensation for the savage injury, and it is savage to bite someone in the face," he told him.