AN alcoholic who said vodka turned him into an "absolute idiot" cut a man's head with a glass, a court heard.
James Ford had been drinking the spirit all day.
He had a cigarette in his mouth when he punched stranger Paul Hopkinson in the face, catching his face with the burning end of the cigarette.
Then he picked up a glass and threw it at Mr Hopkinson, hitting him on the back of his head. Mr Hopkinson needed five stitches.
Ford, 25, of Friar Gate, Derby, was arrested in a nearby street. When he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.
Judge Michael Stokes QC gave Ford a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, supervision from the Probation Service, and a requirement to attend a course to address his anger issues.
Ford attacked Mr Hopkinson when he stepped in as Ford rowed with members of Mr Hopkinson's family.
They were all visiting an address in Underwood.
Afterwards, Ford said vodka turned him into "an absolute idiot".
He had been drinking throughout the day on February 2 this year.
Ford had written a letter to the court apologising to the victim and his family.
He said: "No human being deserves to be treated like I treated Mr Hopkinson that night."
Dean Bower, in mitigation, said: "It wouldn't have happened if he hadn't drunk vodka the way he had."