A SOLDIER facing sentence for headbutting a woman was ordered to pay his victim £150 compensation yesterday.

Jamie Thompson, 22, formerly stationed at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, but who is now stationed in Warminster, Wiltshire, admitted a charge of affray and one of assaulting Claire Coleman causing her actual bodily harm.

Teesside Crown Court heard the incident happened in Darlington on September 3 last year, but sentence on the matter had been deferred for Thompson to keep out of trouble and continue to do well in his Army career.

Dan Cordey, for the soldier, said he had done just that and had served in Northern Ireland between September and December.

He said he was a sensible young man, with a good future in the Army, who was very sorry for what he had done.

John Gillette, prosecuting, said the girl had ended up with a bloody nose, but no more serious injuries.

Judge Les Spittle said he believed Thompson's behaviour that night was out of character for him, and that he thought the soldier should put something back into the community.

He ordered him to pay £150 compensation, £100 prosecution costs and ordered he complete 80 hours community service.