A CLUBBER had to have 40 stitches to his mouth after he was allegedly attacked by a bouncer in a town centre club.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Mark Hoodless, who had been to watch the Clarets and then out drinking with friends, was said to have been punched and knocked to the floor by Victor Docherty, then working on the door at the former Genesis nightspot.

Mr Hoodless, who was knocked unconscious, had to have 30 stitches to the inside of his mouth and 10 on the outside after the alleged assault last May.

Docherty, 30, of Burnley Road East, Lumb, denies inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The complainant, questioned by Judith McCullough, prosecuting, told the jury he was standing in the club and the next thing he knew he was unconscious and being dragged out.

He said he was bleeding, but was not allowed out of the premises by a doorman. A police car was outside and he was told to wait a couple of minutes.

Mr Hoodless said he went to Burnley General Hospital, then Blackburn Royal Infirmary and had been left with slight scarring.

Cross-examined by Paul Hague, defending, the alleged victim said he had had about eight pints, but wasn't drunk. He said he didn't go up to the police car because the club doors were locked and didn't report the incident immediately because he could hardly speak the day after.

Mr Hoodless' friend, Trevor Jones, told the court he was shocked when two bouncers walked past and one turned round and punched the complainant in the face but tried to wake Mr Hoodless up.

The alleged attacker was six feet five or six and Afro-Caribbean. Mr Jones said he later attended an identity parade and picked out the man allegedly responsible for the assault.

(Proceeding)