A MAN who headbutted and punched a pub-goer in an “unprovoked” attack has avoided a jail sentence.

Martin Conder, pictured, of Caldecott Road, Abingdon, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm on March 29 this year.

The 25-year-old was drunk when he struck Reece Froum in the face in the Blue Boar pub, in Bath Street, Abingdon.

Simon Ward, prosecuting, said Conder knew his victim, who was left with a fractured eye socket and cuts to his forehead and cheek.

The assault could be related to an argument beforehand between Mr Froum and Dennis Underwood, who then went to speak to the defendant, he said.

Following the conversation Conder walked up to the defendant and carried out the “unprovoked” attack, Mr Ward said.

He told Recorder Andrew Burrows that Mr Froum would not suffer long-term effects from his injuries and Conder handed himself in to police the following morning.

Abigale Bright, defending, said that her client was training to be a team leader with Homestead Timber Buildings, in Wallingford.

She said: “This incident lasted no more than a few seconds, this was not a sustained assault.

“Both parties were in drink, the victim in this case and the defendant.”

Recorder Burrows said Conder had six previous convictions for seven offences from 2007 and 2008.

He sentenced him to 18 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, with a six-month curfew and an order to pay £150 compensation.