TWO soldiers walked free from court today despite a judge seeing a shocking video in which a man had his head stamped on 18 times.

Jason Collins, 22, who has stood guard at Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace, is set to keep his army job.

A judge also expressed his hope yesterday that Scots Guard Shaun Smith, 25, will also be allowed to remain in the army.

The pair launched a vicious attack that was captured on CCTV in which Smith, also based at barracks next to Buckingham Palace, stamped over and over again on the head of prone James Wormald, 25, while Collins rained blows onto his body.

The soldiers had earlier matched each other drink for drink at bars in Darlington, downing six Budweisers, 14 sweet and sour shots and a Jager Bomb.

They encountered local men Mr Wormald and his friend Mark Thompson after leaving Louis' bar, close to their barracks at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, at 3.30am on April 13 last year and there was an exchange of words which led to the attack.

The court was shown a video which reveals Collins knock Mr Thompson out cold with a single punch before he and Smith launch a joint attack on Mr Wormald.

Their victim flees across a road in fear, narrowly missing a vehicle, before tripping over a traffic island and falling to the ground.

WARNING: Video contains graphic footage of attack

Smith, who has a hood covering his face, can be seen bringing his foot down over and over on his victim's head while Collins relentlessly pummels Mr Wormald to the body at the same time.

The pair then ran off and hid in a stream, but were later caught by the police.

Mr Wormald suffered severe bruising to his face and was thought to have a fractured cheekbone. The imprint of Smith's shoe could be seen on his forehead afterwards.

Speaking after the case, Mr Wormald said: "There was absolutely no reason for the attack, it came out of the blue.

"My friend and I were leaving the club when the two of them walked past us and said something, they were looking for trouble."

The 25-year-old, from Northallerton, added: "They started on us before we even had time to realise what was going on.

"I can remember little about it, but I've seen the CCTV and I'm as shocked as anyone else at the force he used.

"To stamp on someone that many times and get away with only being sentenced for actual bodily harm is wrong.

"It was thought at first that I had a fractured cheekbone but it was later found not to be, that's why the charge was reduced but it doesn't make the attack less serious.

"They claimed later that we threatened them with a knife but that's just a lie, it's not something we'd ever do, or even think of.

"They were trying to justify the way they behaved, but there was no excuse for what they did."

The guardsmen were initially charged with causing grievous bodily harm, which they admitted, but it was later found Mr Wormald's cheekbone may not have been fractured so both admitted the reduced charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.

At Teesside Crown Court yesterday Recorder Jamie Hill, QC, described Smith's part in the attack as "deeply unpleasant and inexcusable" but went on to impose a 12-month jail sentence suspended for a year, with 80 hours' unpaid and £1,000 compensation.

Collins was given a 12-month community order, and was ordered by the judge to pay £500 each to the two victims.

The judge had heard from commanding officers for both men, who said that the army wanted to keep them in its service.

Captain James Dyson, of the Scots Guards, said that if Smith received a suspended sentence it would not mean an automatic discharge from the army, but it would be for a commanding officer to decide whether there were "exceptional circumstances" which would allow him to stay in service.

Mr Recorder Hill said: "I state in open court that what I have done is entirely exceptional.

"I can't say what the army will do, but I simply express the hope, as your commanding officers have expressed, that the army feels able to keep you.

"Collins, I do not impose a custodial sentence so it may be straightforward in your case.

"Smith, I take the view that your situation is exceptional and, therefore, I express that hope and I hope that is relayed to whoever has to make that decision but that is out of my hands I'm afraid."

Earlier in his sentencing remarks, the judge told both Guardsmen: "You Smith used your foot on his head repeatedly and you, Collins, were punching him.

"Whatever led to that, he was posing no threat at that stage, it is a major surprise he suffered no more than bruising and was able to get up and see if his friend was all right."

Collins and Smith said that the other two men had threatened to stab them, which was denied by Mr Wormald.

Smith, who is based at Wellington Barracks 300 yards from Buckingham Palace, left court separately from Collins, who is based at Pirbright Barracks in Surrey.