A 21 YEAR-old Woodsetton electrician described as a "violent drunk" has been allowed to keep his freedom for punching and biting a pub assistant manager after he had downed 15 pints.

Jack Oliver angrily lashed out after he and his friends had been asked to leave the Bramford Arms in Woodsetton because it was suspected they were under age.

He refused to go and when assistant manager John Timmins tried to take his glass Oliver immediately punched him several times to the head and also sank his teeth into his right arm.

"This man was simply performing his duties and he was subjected to an abusive attack," Judge Martin Walsh told Oliver at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

"It was clearly a spontaneous outburst of violence because of your intoxicated state. He was understandably distressed and disturbed and it is clear to me you have a problem with alcohol."

The judge said Oliver had escaped an immediate jail term by the "skin of his teeth" as he warned him another episode of drunken violence would put him behind bars.

Oliver of Eton Close, Woodsetton admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and he was given a 36 week prison sentence suspended for two years.

He was further ordered to obey a four month curfew order between the hours of 8pm and 6am and to carry out 180 hours unpaid work in the community.

The judge also placed Oliver on supervision for 18 months with a condition he attends an anger management course and told him to pay £750 compensation to Mr Timmins for his injuries.

Mr Mark Rees prosecuting said Mr Timmins sustained bruising in the attack along with 12 small cuts to his arm where he was bitten by Oliver.

Mr Jonathan Challinor defending told the court that since the incident Oliver had taken determined steps to reduce his alcohol intake.

He said: "This was an instinctive reaction to having his drink taken away from him. His accepts his reaction was unjustifiable and inexcusable."

Mr Challinor said Oliver was a man who was "hard working, polite, trustworthy, considerable and quiet by nature" and concluded: "When he is in drink his judgement is significantly impaired. When not in drink he is a valuable member of the community."