British rapper Dappy wept as he narrowly escaped a jail sentence on Thursday (05Nov14) for attacking a reveller in a nightclub.

The former N-Dubz star, real name Costadinos Contostavlos, punched Devonn Reid after a bust-up on the dancefloor at Evissa nightclub in Reading, England in October last year (13).

At the time of the offence, he was still serving a six-month suspended jail term for affray and assault relating to a scuffle at a gas station in 2012, but a judge ruled on Thursday that the rapper's actions were not deserving of a prison term and gave him another suspended sentence instead.

Sentencing him at Guildford Crown Court in England, Judge Neil Stewart told the rapper the punch was "not justified, not in self-defence" and that the incident has been "very stressful" for the victim, adding, "You have, plainly, a temper."

Dappy was given a two-month jail term, suspended for year, and was also ordered to pay $1,280 (£800) to his victim and $1,920 (£1,200) in court costs, with a $128 (£80) surcharge.

He was placed under a 12-month supervision order and told to attend a 'thinking skills' course.

Dappy, who sat in the dock apparently praying during the hearing, has convictions dating back to 2005, when he was caught carrying a knife in his jacket pocket.

The court was told he has a huge tax debt and has put his house up for sale to pay off the bill.