A man who assaulted an innocent bystander during a night club melee has walked free from court after his victim asked the judge not to jail him.

Adam Cleary was left with scarring on his face and chest as a result of being hit by a glass jug swung by Li Zhongbo (33).

Chinese national Li of Main Street, Rathfarnham pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Sin Nightclub in Temple Bar on March 25, 2013.

Li had become involved in a fight that broke out in the nightclub between a group of Chinese men and a group of Irish men who had been acting aggressively and groping women in the club.

Li picked up a large glass jug and swung out violently with it. It hit the face of the victim, who had no part in the fight and no connection with either group.

The jug smashed causing injuries to the victim's face, shoulder and chest. He received a total of 29 sutures to these lacerations, including seven to a wound near his eye.

The court heard that Mr Cleary had graciously told Garda Eoin Carroll that he didn't want to see Li jailed as he believed this was an out of character act by him. Li has no previous convictions.

Judge Patrick McCartan described the victim as a generous and fair man who didn't hold a grudge against the accused.

He noted that Li had confessed to his actions on the night, had tendered a sincere apology and brought €1,000 to court to offer to the victim as a gesture of remorse. The judge said he would apply the Probation of Offenders Act.

Li approached the victim after the sentencing to thank him and the two men shook hands.

The married father of two has worked legally in Ireland since coming here ten years ago, including working as a chef in Wexford before he moved to Dublin.

He was punched himself several times by the Irish men during the melee and his jaw was fractured.