A former soldier who sprayed CS gas at people in a taxi queue has been ordered to do 150 hours community service.
The baffling assault by Gary West left some of those waiting for a cab in discomfort and with painful eyes, Lewes Crown Court heard.
West, 39, of Compton Road, Brighton, admitted possessing a prohibited weapon in January last year.
He was convicted by a jury of two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm and two of common assault.
West, who had served tours of duty in Cyprus, Germany, Africa and Northern Ireland during his time in the army, was cleared of one allegation of common assault and another of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Judge Anthony Scott-Gall sentenced him to 150 hours community service on all five charges, to run concurrently.
West was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to the four victims.
Judge Scott-Gall said: "Sixteen months ago, armed with a CS canister, you walked past a taxi queue containing a number of people and for whatever reason, and I'm as puzzled today as I was during the trial as to why, you sprayed CS gas in their direction.
"It caused discomfort and short-lived pain to those who got it in their eyes."
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