A DRINKER who smashed a bottle over the head of a man who was celebrating his birthday has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Daniel Joseph Mountain, 28, attacked Michael Moody in The Gallery nightclub, in York, said Geraldine Kelly, prosecuting at York Crown Court. Mr Moody, who was celebrating his birthday with friends, suffered a 10cm cut.

Mountain, of Willow Bank, New Earswick, admitted wounding. He told police he had drunk between eight and nine pints that night.

His barrister, Geoff Parsons, said his client did not realise he had something in his hand when he struck the blow. "I don't believe that," said the Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman.

He jailed Mountain for 30 months, describing him as a man with two sides to his character. He was a hard-working man, but had 12 previous convictions for drink-related violence and public order offences.

Mr Parsons said two older members of Mountain's family had been alcoholics, and he had sought counselling after the attack. Once, he had acted "heroically" in stopping a theft at his place of work.

Miss Kelly said that in the nightclub there had been a confrontation about midnight between the two men's groups over a woman's behaviour, but that matters had calmed down. Then at 1.30am, Mountain had stared hard at Mr Moody and beckoned him over.

Updated: 12:14 Saturday, May 24, 2003