A CIRENCESTER man has been jailed for 12 months after a vicious assault that left his victim needing 40 stitches.

Craig Quilter, 22, of Burge Court, sobbed I love you' to his girlfriend in the public gallery of Gloucester Crown Court on Monday after he was sentenced.

The court heard the night of violence at The Nelson pub, in Gloucester Street, Cirencester, began when another man, Jake Thorne, goaded Quilter's victim Oliver Taylor by dancing "provocatively" with a girl he was infatuated with.

Jealous Taylor, aged 20, of Churchill Place, Hatherop, lashed out at Mr Thorne leaving him with serious facial injuries.

He was jailed for 12 months in February after he admitted causing grievous bodily harm on October 14 last year.

In response to the attack on Mr Thorne, Quilter attacked Taylor, punching him in the face with a glass, which left him with serious wounds to his head.

Prosecutor Richard Shepherd said: "Craig Quilter saw Mr Thorne had been injured and was bleeding a great deal.

Oliver Taylor then ran from the pub and was pursued by a group that included Mr Quilter. Oliver Taylor recalls Mr Quilter looking angry and striking him with a bottle or glass.

"During the strike the bottle broke against the side of his head. The injuries were described as three lacerations of five centimetres each in length."

Quilter pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm on the basis that he did not deliberately use the glass, but simply had it in his hand when he lashed out.

He has a long record for violent offences, including actual bodily harm, and common assault stretching back for years.

Nigel Fryer, defending, said: "The red-mist came down. Drink was at the heart of the problem and the absence of thought when he is drinking."

Judge Jamie Tabor told him: "You have already been here on six occasions for injuring people, often by striking them in the face. You are a violent young man. But there is good in you, and you pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity."