A MUM-to-be - close to the end of her pregnancy - watched from the public gallery of Worcester Crown Court as her boyfriend escaped being jailed.

Mark Faulkner admitted wounding Neil Radburn outside Tramps nightclub in the city.

The victim was punched in the face and knocked to the ground, suffering a serious injury to his upper thigh.

Judge Andrew Geddes said he could "avoid" handing down a prison sentence after hearing 20-year-old Faulkner had no previous convictions and had acted out of character.

He was ordered to carry out 180 hours of community work, pay the victim £500 compensation and pay £200 court costs.

Peter Haynes, defending, said Faulkner's pregnant girlfriend was in the gallery and the day the baby was due coincided with his court appearance.

Having a child to look after would tax the defendant's £650-a-month income from the weighing machine firm he worked for, he added.

James McCracken, prosecuting, described how Mr Radburn had been out celebrating a birthday with another man and two women on Saturday, November 24 last year.

Women dancing

He said it was clear Mr Radburn approached Faulkner, of Bridge Street, Worcester, who was dancing with the women, and pushed him away. Bouncers ejected Mr Radburn from the nightclub.

Mr McCracken said Mr Radburn waited outside for the women, but Faulkner "assumed" he was waiting to confront him and launched a punch in the face. The blow split Mr Radburn's eyebrow. He ran off but was chased and knocked over. Faulkner picked him up off the ground, and holding him by his shirt punched him again. He fell to the ground a second time.

Mr Haynes handed the judge testimonials from the defendant's employers and added: "He couldn't complain if it was custody. He doesn't excuse what he did and has expressed shame."

Faulkner, who did not normally drink, had consumed alcohol after meeting a pal just out of the Army.

Judge Geddes said an argument over a girl inside the nightclub had turned to violence.

He accepted that Mr Radburn became aggressive on the dance floor, but described it as "a disgraceful incident all round" between two men who were drunk.