A MAN who "glassed" an off-duty police officer in a Burnley pub has been jailed for nine months.

Burnley Crown Court heard amateur soccer player David McDonough's victim Paul Hope suffered a 3in gash on his forehead and had to have eight stitches after the attack at Paradise Island on Good Friday.

Sentencing McDonough, Recorder Tanya Griffiths said the message must go out that those who used glass as a weapon in pubs or clubs must know their behaviour would not be tolerated.

The judge added she accepted the defendant was basically a decent young men but he had acted disgracefully.

McDonough, of Grassington Green, Burnley, had earlier admitted unlawful wounding. He had no previous convictions.

Richard Vardon, prosecuting, said on March 29, victim Paul Hope was out with his girlfriend and met up with friends.

At about 9.45pm the defendant came up to him and asked :"What was that for ?" He was either mistaken or trying to cause trouble.

Mr Hope said he did not know what McDonough was talking about, but the defendant, who had his head in the victim's face, accused him of pushing him. He then became abusive and aggressive and squared up to Mr Hope with a bottle in his hand.

Mr Hope felt a heavy blow to his head and fell to the floor. Witnesses had seen the defendant swinging a bottle and the off-duty officer suffered a cut above his eye.

Mr Hope went to hospital by ambulance and later returned to the pub and identified his attacker.

Mr Vardon said McDonough was still in an aggressive mood and told Mr Hope :"I will remember you."

The defendant claimed he had acted in self defence and denied he had changed his tee-shirt to avoid being detected.

Dennis Watson, defending, said McDonough had asked to be remanded in custody after admitting the offence and was realistic about his fate.

He had never before been to prison, it had taken considerable courage for him to enter his plea and he had lost his job as a result.

McDonough had been drunk and stumbled on the stairs but had over reacted and accepted the victim was blameless.

He hit him once with the bottle, now apologised and accepted his behaviour was out of order.

The defendant, who played football for two local teams, could normally control his temper and had always supported his close-knit family.