A MAN who covered his sleeping flatmate's face with nail varnish has been jailed.

His victim said that she "freaked out" and was unable to open her eyes the morning after Ian Mahoney, 32, had covered her face and hair with the nail varnish, Vicks vapour rub and KY Jelly.

He told police that it was a joke and no malice was intended.

The court heard Mahoney had already admitted a charge of actual bodily harm at an earlier hearing.

The court heard that Mahoney and victim Nicola Parle were guests at the home of a mutual friend in Teignmouth when the offence happened on March 23.

The two had been sharing a drink before Miss Parle took two sleeping pills and retired to bed.

Prosecutor James Taghdissian told the court: "When she woke at 6am she was unable to open her eyes and she panicked.

"She touched her face and hair and felt grease and other things.

"She managed to get to the bathroom and washed her face so she could open her eyes then she phoned a friend to come to her assistance.

"Mahoney was identified as he was the only other person in the house that could have committed the assault."

Mahoney, of Hammersmith, London, was given a 10-month sentence.