TWO drunken soldiers who attacked customers in a fast food takeaway in Colchester have been saved from serious punishment because of their excellent military careers.

But a judge at Chelmsford Crown Court warned Joe Marchant and James Hutton that soldiering was “not a get out of jail free card” or automatically meant lesser sentences.

Judge Emma Peters told the two NCOs they should be ashamed of themselves.

“That kind of ill-discipline when drunk is a very unattractive trait in a junior officer in the Army. You both have responsibility for exercising discipline on your subordinates and setting an example,” she told them.

“You are both good soldiers. Society is better if you are serving it but society also demands that you are punished.”

Hutton, 22, of Stubbs Drive, Southwark, who is a lance corporal in the Scots Guards Regiment and was attached to 3 Para Guards platoon, pleaded guilty to affray on 7 March last year at Roosters in the High Street.

He caused a painful eye injury to Sam James inside the take-away in a dispute over who should be served first and, with co-defendant Marchant, kicked Mr James’s friend, Ross Gunn, on the ground outside.

Marchant, 25, of London Road, Romford, a lance corporal in the Household Guards Regiment, also attached to 3 Para Guards, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Gunn, who suffered minor bruise, by beating.

Hutton was sentenced to a 12-month community order, with 100 hours’ unpaid work. The judge also made an order banning him from all on-licensed premises for three months, although he will be able to go in the junior officers’ club on his camp at Aldershot but not drink alcohol.

He must pay Mr James £1,500 compensation and £600 prosecution costs. Marchant was fined £600, ordered to pay Mr Gunn £200 compensation, and £300 prosecution costs.

The court heard Hutton was described as the best lance corporal in his battalion, had a promising career and that any type of custodial sentence would put his military career in jeopardy.