A man has admitted an attack in a pub beer garden which left its victim with impaired hearing.
Shaun Bond, aged 24, changed his plea on the morning when his trial at Exeter Crown Court was due to start.
He admitted the attack on victim Nathan Pring, who suffered partial deafness as a result of a blow to the head in the incident outside The Railwayman pub which was caught on CCTV.
Bond, of Headland Crescent, Exeter, admitted causing grievous bodily harm after being told by Judge Phillip Wassall that any sentence might be suspended.
His barrister Mr Richard Franck, asked the Judge for what is known as a Goodyear Direction, in which an indication of a maximum sentence is given.
Mr James Taghdissian, prosecuting, said Mr Pring suffered serious injuries as a result of the assault, but has made a full recovery but still suffers some impairment to his hearing.
Mr Franck said Bond admits the offence on the basis that he formed the mistaken belief he was under threat of attack. He said:"He accepts he had no grounds for that impression."
Judge Wassall said the sentence, giving credit for a guilty plea, would be less than two years, making it possible for it to be suspended.
He ordered the probation service to prepare a pre-sentence report and told Bond:"The report will be critical so far as sentencing is concerned and it is in your interest to cooperate with the probation service."
