A 27-year-old Hereford man whose father has had a distinguished military career has escaped a prison sentence after fracturing a student's eye socket during a night out at Play nightclub.

Recorder Stephen Evans was told by barrister Brian Dean at Worcester Crown Court that a prison sentence, even suspended, would thwart Joseph Woodrow's own plans to join the army.

So he punished Woodrow by giving him a 12-month community order with 120 days unpaid work. He also ordered him to pay £600 compensation to his victim, John Kenyon, and £300 court costs.

Woodrow, of Foxes Barn, Shelwick, Hereford, had been sent to the court for sentence after being convicted of causing grievous bodily harm after a trial in February.

Prosecutor John Brotherton said there had been pushing and shoving in the Play nightclub on June 2, 2013, resulting in Mr Kenyon, a dental student at Cardiff University being punched. His left eye socket was fractured.

Mr Dean, mitigating, said Woodrow's ambition was to join the army where his father had a distinguished career, being awarded the DCM and an MBE.

His mother is Aylestone Business and Enterprise College principal, Sue Woodrow, who is stepping down from the post at the end of this school year.

The court heard his sister had just finished a law degree at Birmingham University and his other sister had undertaken a high profile training course with BT.

The recorder asked what Woodrow had been doing in recent months and Mr Dean said he had been to Australia and had spent time in the City of London.

The recorder said the offence would normally result in a custodial sentence but he said Woodrow was a man of good character and he would be astonished if he ever came back to the court in future.