Alice Walpole, 24, said she was 'ten out of ten' drunk when she almost blinded Julian Simms after flirting with him at a bar

An inebriated marine biologist smashed a glass into a stranger's face in an unprovoked attack just seconds after they were happily 'singing, dancing and playing air guitar'.

Alice Walpole, 24, said she was 'ten out of ten' drunk when she almost blinded Julian Simms after flirting with him at a bar.

The attack - which footage showed to be completely unprovoked - happened when Simms turned to chat to a male friend who had tapped him on the shoulder.

Following the savage assault, he was taken to hospital and was still suffering double vision two months later.

Walpole, who works at Bristol aquarium in the city centre, met Mr Simms at the Tomato Bar in Tiverton, in Devon.

She had spent the day at a food festival and the evening downing pints of cider, drinking glasses of Barcardi and coke, as well as some shots.

She then ended up in the bar where she met her victim for the first time.

Walpole, from Oakford, Devon, admitted causing grievous bodily harm and was jailed for 14 months, suspended for a year.

The Plymouth University graduate was also ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work and pay £1,500 compensation at Exeter Crown Court.

Recorder Rufus Taylor told her: 'You had a great deal to drink and got chatting to the victim and you got on very well all night. There is no suggestion he was in any way to blame or provoked you or said or did anything inappropriate.

'You were getting on well, playing air guitar. He bought you a drink and for some reason you picked up and glass and struck him.

'I have seen the photographs of his facial scarring which runs in a straight line down the forehead to the left eyebrow. It is a matter of luck he was not blinded in his left eye and the prognosis of his sight is uncertain.

'This was unprovoked at a bar at night when you were drunk. However, you are young and of positive good character and indicated in your interview how remorseful you are.'

Walpole, from Oakford, Devon, admitted causing grievous bodily harm and was jailed for 14 months, suspended for a year

Mark Taylor, prosecuting, said Mr Simms had gone to the Tomato Bar with friends after a barbecue and met Walpole.

He said: 'The CCTV showed them both having a good time, singing, and playing air guitar. There was no sign of any aggression from the defendant.

'Up until the incident the actions of both could be interpreted as flirtatious, although nothing serious happened. He was playing air guitar at 2.16.59 and six seconds later she can be seen tipping her head back and laughing.

'Three seconds later a male tapped Mr Simms on the shoulder. He turns to greet him, and is simply hit in the face with the glass and thrown backwards.'

Mr Rupert Taylor, defending, said Walpole has never been in trouble before and the attack was completely out of character.

She was anxious and depressed at the time because of a family illness and drank far more than she should have done, she added.

Her work at Bristol aquarium made her unsuitable for a curfew because she was on call at all hours and could not wear a tag because she sometimes had to dive into deep fish tanks.