A FALKLANDS veteran who smashed a Royal Marine over the head with a bar stool in an attack on Remembrance Day has been spared a prison sentence after a judge heard he suffers with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Stephen Burton, 55, had downed 12 pints before he assaulted Kevin Gunn at the Foundry Arms in Poole on November 13 last year.

The men, who didn’t know each other but had both served with the Marines, had individually attended Poppy Day commemorations in Poole prior to the incident.

Mr Gunn had then visited the pub with two female friends for a drink.

As the group sat together in the smoking area, Mark Avery, a friend of Burton’s, made a “rude comment” about one of the women’s haircuts.

Mr Gunn told Mr Avery he was "out of order" and Mr Avery went back inside the pub.

However, Burton then went out to the smoking area and hit Mr Gunn, who fell to the ground.

When Mr Gunn was down, Burton picked up a bar stool and struck the victim several times on the head with it.

Mr Gunn lost half a litre of blood as a result of his injuries, the court heard.

Burton then returned to his home on the Huntick estate in Lytchett Matravers before taking an overdose of painkillers.

He voluntarily attended a police station the next day.

Prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court, Jane Rowley said the defendant accepted that he had been in a “drunken stupor” at the time of the offence.

He admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm in December last year.

Mitigating, Robert Grey said Burton has suffered with alcohol abuse problems since his return from the Falklands.

The defendant has been working with forces' mental health charity Combat Stress, it was heard.

Recorder Simon Levene said the impact of Burton’s PTSD combined with heavy drinking could make any problems he faced “potentially more explosive and potentially more dangerous”.

"This was a very shocking assault," the judge said.

“There is no silver bullet for your problems."

Judge Levene said the defendant is “potentially beginning to spiral,” and warned: “It could get a great deal worse.”

“You are close to the brink and I think you know it,” he said.

"It reflects very badly on your service colleagues and that should be an incentive to you.”

He sentenced Burton to four months in prison suspended for two years, a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 150 hours of unpaid community work.

Burton must also pay Mr Gunn £1,000 in compensation.