A Harrogate Royal Marine's unwanted "kiss" left a man scarred for life and the soldier behind bars for 12 months, after he appeared before York Crown Court yesterday.

Gavin Dunwell, 23, serving at Lympstone Barracks in Devon, pleaded guilty to one charge of causing grievous bodily harm.

The court heard that Dunwell was on a drunken night out in Harrogate when he bit off David Sutton's lip in an unprovoked attack.

Witnesses said it looked like Dunwell was kissing his victim. Instead, the "kiss" left Mr Sutton needing a trip to hospital and five stitches to his mouth.

Nicholas Wray, prosecuting, told the court that Dunwell's victim had been walking home with a friend when he was set upon.

"Mr Sutton fell backwards over the kerb," Mr Wray said. "The defendant was seen crouching over him. It was described by a witness that the two were kissing, but in fact the defendant was biting Mr Sutton's bottom lip, and did so for 10 to 15 seconds."

Jason Pitter, for Dunwell, pleaded with Judge Paul Hoffman not to jail his client.

He was of previous good character and had an excellent military record, Mr Pitter said.

He added: "He was devastated when he saw the CCTV video of that evening. His behaviour was totally out of character, and while he accepts the prosecution case, he had been drinking for a good part of the day and simply can't remember the events."

However, Judge Hoffman locked Dunwell up for twelve months, saying the public were "sick and tired" of violent, drunken young men.

He said: "Not only did you inflict a nasty injury upon your victim, you inflicted it in a nasty and unpleasant manner. The public are sick and tired of young men getting themselves drunk and inflicting violence upon others."