A FORMER public relations worker had to have stitches and specialist eye treatment after he was glassed in the face by a former friend a jury was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Dean Derbyshire, now 21, returned to his friends outside a pub with blood running down his face. Mr Derbyshire claimed his alleged attacker, Mohammed Syed, then asked his friends: "Does anybody else want some?"

Syed, 24, of Highfield Avenue, Burnley, denies wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm on April 18.

The court heard how Mr Derbyshire had been standing with friends outside the Starkie Arms pub, Padiham, about 5pm when the defendant's brother, Omar, who he knew from school, drove up and chatted to him for about 20 minutes. Mr Derbyshire, who said he had maybe had about three pints of snakebite - half a pint of lager mixed with half a pint of cider - said he returned to his group but "thought it was a bit weird" as Omar Syed was driving around the block.

The complainant said a taxi then pulled up and Syed, who he had known for 12 to 18 months, got out with his girlfriend.

Syed told him he was really mad at him and the pair went inside and had a bit of an argument.

Mr Derbyshire said he went outside and Syed also left the pub and asked him if he could have a word around the corner. He went round the corner and Syed dipped his head and put the glass in his face. Mr Derbyshire said the glass smashed in his face and he could not see out of one eye. He returned to his friends.

The complainant went on: "I remember Mohammed saying 'Does anybody else want some?'" The alleged victim told the jury Syed got into his brother's car and Omar looked shocked, asking him what he had done.

The complainant said he went to hospital and had to be transferred to Blackburn as he had glass in his eye and in his wound. He told the jury he was now fully recovered from his injuries.

Asked by prosecutor Abigail Nicholson: "Did you do anything to provoke the defendant?" Mr Derbyshire replied: "I don't feel I did."

Syed's girlfriend yesterday told the jury the complainant had lunged towards her partner.

University student Shaazia Ul Haq claimed Mr Derbyshire had been waving a glass around and her boyfriend had put up his arms to protect himself.

Miss Ul Haq said she heard a smash, Mr Derbyshire ran into the pub and Syed was in shock. She added that she and Syed got into his brother's car and a bottle or glass was smashed on the boot.

Miss Ul Haq added the defendant told her Mr Derbyshire had been going for him with a glass. She went on: "Mohammed was shaking and upset. He couldn't believe what had happened as Dean was meant to be one of his friends."

When questioned by defence barrister Philip Holden, said last Christmas she had been attacked by the girlfriend and sister of Mr Derbyshire in Paradise Island pub in Burnley and they had all been thrown out.

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