Megan Bradley (pictured outside court on Wednesday) left her victim scarred for life in what a judge described as a 'reckless act'

A trainee teacher has avoided jail for glassing a man in the face during a Christmas Eve row over a scarf.

Megan Bradley left Julian Beranger scarred for life in what a judge described as a 'reckless act'.

But the 19-year-old, who had been drinking wine, cocktails and vodka during a pub crawl, was allowed to walk free as her act of violence was 'completely out of character'.

Bradley used the glass 'as a weapon', picking it up and throwing it at the victim's face when he tried to retrieve his scarf from her friend who was refusing to hand it back.

The attack happened just before closing time at Platform 5 bar in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, on Christmas Eve last year.

Prosecutor Tom Sherrington told Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court that Ms Bradley's had picked up the scarf and put it on, causing the victim to ask for it back.

The court heard how the victim is now 'very nervous in groups and social situations' following the incident.

At the time Bradley had been on a teaching training course at Leeds Beckett university and had worked for two years in a primary school as a volunteer

Patrick Harris, defending, told the court how Bradley had left her university teacher training course because of the conviction and her ambitions now lay in tatters.

She has now taken up a new job at an agency which provides intensive driving courses.

Mr Harris pointed out that a pre-sentence report prepared by the probation service had 'reflected that this woman was of previous good character'.

The barrister described his client, who dreamed of being a primary school teacher, as 'industrious with a very good work ethic'.

Bradley (pictured left and right) used the glass 'as a weapon', throwing it at the victim's face when he tried to retrieve his scarf from her friend who was refusing to hand it back

Judge Bernadette Baxter said the argument was 'something and nothing over a scarf' that her friend had refused to return to its owner.

She told Bradley: 'You had a glass in your hand and you threw it at (the victim). I accept that was a reckless act.

'You threw it towards him but not as an act to defend your friend but in the aggression of the moment.'

Bradley said: 'I was talking to someone I know through friends of friends and he found a scarf and just put it on.

'Julian grabbed the scarf from around his neck and that's when the altercation started.

'I went over to try and break it up. I was quite sober to be honest, everyone was just jolly because it was Christmas Eve.

'Another girl was also trying to pull Julian off. I got in between them and got an elbow to the face.

'The fight was getting worse so I grabbed my glass and threw it towards them both. I thought that the liquid would hit them and make them stop.

'I threw the contents of my glass, hoping that the contents of the glass would hit the men to stop them fighting.

Julian Beranger (pictured) was left his lacerations on his face and had to spend Christmas morning in A&E

'I did throw the glass, maybe I thought that the glass would smash on the floor to distract them and stop them from fighting - but I did not think that it would smash.'

Mr Beranger, a customer relations officer had to be taken to hospital and treated for lacerations to his face.

He spent the early hours of Christmas morning in A&E and his wounds had to be stitched up and glued together.

He added: 'This has completely changed my life. It has just affected me a lot more than I thought it would. I have suffered with panic attacks. I struggle going to busy places.

'I had to be moved at work because I was getting scared when people were coming up behind me. So it has not just affected my social life but my work life as well. It has left scaring to my face.'

The judge accepted that the defendant had not intended to cause her victim serious injury but it caused cuts to his face 'which have left him with permanent scars'.

He said: 'You must know as an intelligent girl this is a serious matter. You used that glass as a weapon. You threw that glass.

The judge said the fact she pleaded guilty 'at the first opportunity' and that she was 'a respectable girl from a respectable family' was 'powerful mitigation'.

Judge Baxter accepted the attack was 'completely out of character' but added: 'Nevertheless there must be consequence.'

She handed Bradley a suspended 12-month jail sentence and ordered her to pay £350 compensation to her victim.

Bradley, of Cheadle, admitted a single charge of wounding.