A MAN who left another man with life-changing injuries after a pub brawl has been spared jail.

Stephen Hayward, 30, of Carisbrooke Road, Newport, pleaded guilty to causing GBH at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Friday.

The court heard how Hayward attacked another man in the beer garden of the Castle Inn on November 10, 2015.

Prosecutor, Nicola Talbot-Hadley, said: "He changed his plea to guilty on what was supposed to be the first day of his trial.

"He accepted responsibility for overreacting and striking the other man twice, though the prosecution doesn't accept that the complainant did anything wrong.

"In the rear garden of the pub the victim was talking with two ladies when he suddenly felt a blow to the head.

"A man in a black cap had hit him and it ended up in a fight on the ground. "Without warning Mr Hayward launched himself at the complainant.

"The fight lasted about half a minute and Mr Hayward left immediately after. The victim was left with two fractures to his eye socket.

"He has had to have reconstructive surgery on his face, now having a metal plate put in under the skin."

Hayward's defence, Elizabeth Bussey-Jones said: "This matter was greatly affected by his mental health at the time, he suffers with schizo-affective disorder.

"He had no idea at the time that he has the strength to hit someone hard enough to do that kind of damage."

Judge Roger Hetherington gave Hayward a 13-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to attend 25 rehabilitation days.