A MAN who slashed one of his best friends in the face with a knife could have killed him, a court heard.

Burnley Crown Court was told how Daniel Dawson suffered serious injury and had to have surgery after he was subjected to a vicious attack with his own craft knife by drunken John Pounder.

He and Pounder, 20, had gone into the toilets of a club to take cocaine but Mr Dawson, who handed the blade over to cut the drugs, ended up being struck on the left of his face and being taken to hospital after the pair fell out.

Pounder, of Russell Court, pleaded not guilty to wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm on March 13 but admitted the lesser charge of unlawful wounding. He was bailed until September 17 for a pre-sentence report but was warned by Judge Brian Duckworth he was facing a "not inconsiderable" jail term.

The judge, who told Pounder not to contact Mr Dawson and not to go near his Reed Street, Burnley, home, added the blow to the victim was deliberate and vicious.

Judge Duckworth went on: "Don't be under any illusions, this was a very nasty injury. It could have been absolutely dreadful, slashing a man with a Stanley knife, perilously close to his neck where vital blood vessels are.

"You could have killed him and the court must take a very serious view of it."

Louise Whaites, prosecuting, told the court Pounder had pleaded guilty on the basis both men went to the toilets of a Conservative club to take drugs.

The victim had not had any when the attack happened but the pair were in the process of doing so.

Mr Dawson gave the defendant his Stanley knife to cut the cocaine. The victim stood behind Pounder and punched him three or four times giving him a black eye.

The defendant then turned round and struck Mr Dawson to the left side of his face while holding the knife. His actions went beyond reasonable self defence.

Miss Whaites said Pounder accepted he had been winding the complainant up as Mr Dawson used to bully him.

The prosecutor said there were "areas of dispute" between what the two men said had happened. Pounder was extremely drunk when he was taken to the police station. He was unsteady on his feet, his eyes were glazed and his speech slurred.

The defendant seemed high on drugs as well as drunk. He was incoherent and bouncing about. He was not deemed fit to be read his rights until 5am the next morning.

Miss Whaites said Mr Dawson had at first made a retraction statement after the attack. It was clear the defendant and victim had been good friends for a long time, had resolved their difficulties and had made up.

Philip Holden, defending, said Pounder was working and wanted to put testimonials before the court when he was sentenced.