A man who repeatedly punched a man in the face in an Ipswich nightclub and broke his eye socket has walked free from court after a judge decided not to send him straight to prison.

Reece Carnell, 22, was in Liquid on February 17 when he and his victim James Columbus bumped into each other as Carnell walked through a bar area, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Carnell punched Mr Columbus several times causing injuries, which included a fractured eye socket, said Robert Sadd, prosecuting. Mr Columbus did not require surgery but was off work for three weeks and had to attend his dentist because some of his teeth were loosened in the attack.

Carnell, of Nacton Road, Ipswich, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and was given a 16 month prison sentence suspended for two years. He was also ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work and to pay Mr Columbus £750 compensation. Sentencing Carnell, Judge David Goodin said he deserved to go to prison. However he felt able to pass a suspended sentence because Carnell was relatively lightly convicted, he was in work and the offence was an isolated incident.

Roger Thomson for Carnell said the incident was not premeditated and had lasted less than a minute.