A 20-YEAR-OLD soldier serving with the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment has admitted brutally assaulting two men outside a Dursley pub.

Robert Stringer, of Oak Drive, Dursley, pleaded guilty at Gloucester Crown Court last Thursday to causing Lee Bradley grievous bodily harm and Sam Law actual bodily harm on May 28 last year.

Prosecutor Tabitha MacFarlane said the case was somewhat unusual because the victims did not remember the incident during a night of heavy drinking.

Mr Law, who serves in the same battalion as Stringer, now found his life extremely difficult - practically becoming a hermit and a very nervous young man, she said.

Mr Law had been left with a substantial black eye. Mr Bradley had a metal plate inserted above his right eye and had to drink through a straw for six weeks after the assault.

In mitigation, Giles Nelson, defending, said that before the fight Mr Law had been violent towards Stringer verbally.

"The incident happened in the street," Mr Nelson told the court. "It was one blow to each victim and the defendant clearly did not intend the level of injury caused."

Commanding officer Lt Alistair Cay, who attended the hearing, said: "He is a very willing soldier and is well respected by his peer members in the platoon. I personally have never know him indulge in this type of conduct before."

Lt Cay said that he had been in command of Stringer for the past seven months and that he would be going with him to Afghanistan to work in reconnaissance for six months.

Judge Tabor said: "I make it quite plain that your behaviour that night was sufficiently serious and unpleasant to warrant a sentence of imprisonment.

"You are a man of good character and are serving your country. I understand that you are a valuable member of your reconnaissance platoon."

The judge deferred sentencing until September 2, telling Stringer he must behave himself and raise at least £3,000 to go towards compensating his two victims. He warned him there would be a substantial fine on top of that.