Former squaddie Mark Matthews had been given an eight-month jail term, suspended for two years, with a curfew, after admitting a wounding allegation after a "fight."

The 21-year-old, who had removed his tag, had started having problems when he got home from war and offended after his discharge from the army.

Matthews, who could have ended up behind bars for the eight months, was instead given supervision, organised through the Royal British Legion.

The defendant, a father-to-be, of Chatham Street, Colne, admitted breaching the suspended term.

Judge Simon Newell told the defendant he had caused unpleasant injuries in a nasty assault in August last year. He added Matthews had been "sailing very close to the wind," had not co-operated with the order and it was not for him to tell the courts what to do.

Philip Holden (defending) said problems started when Matthews returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. He had had very little help and that had led him to drinking more than was good for him.