A MAN left a colleague scarred for life after smashing a pint glass into his face during a drunken disagreement at a works party.

Callum McLane had downed an astonishing 45 vodkas before launching the attack at the Kings Arms in Billingham just before Christmas.

McLane dodged prison yesterday after a judge said CCTV pictures seemed to show that the 22-year-old had been provoked by his victim.

Judge Peter Armstrong, at Teesside Crown Court, said: "It's a lesson to anyone taking advantage of a free bar and drinking far too much."

McLane had 15 treble vodka and lemonades because he was too shy to speak to colleagues he did not know very well, the court heard.

After a Christmas meal and complimentary drinks at another venue, some of the engineering firm staff went to the Kings Arms to continue their party.

Prosecutor Jenny Haigh told the court that a number of workers asked McLane to calm down as he was being "rowdy or excitable".

During an angry exchange of words, McLane was told by his victim to "f*** off, go home and stop being a dick", said Miss Haigh.

Film footage from inside the bar appears to show the victim moving his head towards McLane's before he lashes out with the glass.

Julian Gaskin, mitigating, said the reaction could be classed as excessive self-defence - although the judge did not agree entirely.

Mr Gaskin said McLane was "gobsmacked" by what he saw on the pub's security film, and described it as "like somebody else in my body".

He told Judge Armstrong: "Callum has acted in a moment of madness, completely and utterly out of character.

"He didn't know many people and accepts he drank too much partly making use of the complimentary bar, and building up the Dutch courage to speak to people he was not familiar with in the office."

The court heard how the victim was cut above the left eye and at the side of his mouth, needed stitches and is scarred.

He has grown a beard to hide the wounds, but is to be best man soon and has been asked to be clean-shaven, and feels he cannot.

In a statement, he said: "I am a professional man and do not want people to assume that I am a thug."

Judge Armstrong imposed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with £1,000 compensation and 150 hours' unpaid work.

McLane, of Newbury Avenue, Middlesbrough, admitted a charge of unlawful wounding at an earlier court hearing.

The judge, who heard McLane had lost his job after the assault, but has since found further work, said: "From what I have seen, I am persuaded that there was some small element of provocation, although I am not sure it amounts to excessive self-defence."