An Aberystwyth University student sentenced for a vicious attack on a fellow scholar has been let off having to pay £3,000 compensation to his victim.

Hard drinker, Joshua Louis Natt, 23, of Cambrian Place, was in his second year at the university and had already blown his £10,000 savings.

And Appeal Court judges last week ruled he simply could not afford to compensate his victim, Laurence Osborne, who was left permanently scarred.

On 8 May last year, Mr Osborne was out in Aberystwyth town centre celebrating the completion of his dissertation, Mrs Justice Andrews told London’s Appeal Court.

When he tried to act as peacemaker and stop an argument, Natt’s response was to punch him several times in the face.

He landed one more punch after Mr Osborne had fallen to the ground under the rain of blows.

The victim was left with a permanent scar to his upper lip and has suffered from severe headaches since.

Natt was a drinker and cannabis user, according to a probation officer’s report.

He was also on medication for anxiety and depression after his grandmother was murdered during a burglary.

He arrived at Aberystwyth with £10,000 in savings but had “blown the money in the first year”, the court heard.

Natt admitted unlawful wounding at Swansea Crown Court on 20 November last year.

He was given a 16-month suspended jail term and ordered to pay the £3,000 compensation to Mr Osborne.

The judge who sentenced Natt told him: “You had £10,000 shortly before the commission of this offence. You chose to drink it away.

“I am satisfied you will find the money if you are determined to and you must pay Mr Osborne within six months.”

Catrin Jenkins, for Natt, last week argued the compensation order should not have been made as he could not afford to pay it.

She pointed to him being a student, being overdrawn, having a student loan and being in arrears on his accommodation rent.

Mrs Justice Andrews agreed, saying it was “difficult to see” where the Crown Court judge “thought Watt was going to be able to get £3,000 from, let alone in six months”.

“An order for compensation cannot be justified,” said the judge, who was sitting with Lord Justice Davis and Judge Alistair McCreath.

“We allow this appeal and set aside the compensation order.”