A YOUNG Lancaster man is facing life behind bars following a "gratuitous" act of violence outside a Lancaster nightclub.

After hearing Robert Callaghan of Lyth Road plead guilty to wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, Judge David Boulton said: "Even though you are not yet 21, I am obliged by law to pass a sentence of detention for life."

Callaghan, 20, has already served four years in prison after someone he attack was left needing 40 stitches.

Prosecutor David Toal said that in March this year a violent incident took place outside Brooks Nightclub in Lancaster and when police arrived at the scene a sergeant saw Callaghan run from the pavement towards a group of people outside the club.

He struck the victim with a glass or a bottle and the force of the blow caused the object to shatter on impact.

The victim, Vernon Middleton, recalled being hit by something, hearing a smash and falling to the floor clutching his head. The police officer immediately approached Callaghan and he was arrested.

The victim of the glassing was taken to Royal Lancaster Infirmary and had a six centimetre wound above the left ear which was found to have glass inside. He also suffered a laceration to the upper ear and both wounds needed stitches.

The defendant told police he had been involved in a "little argument" while coming out of the nightclub. He said a male was pointed out to him as someone who had allegedly struck his girlfriend. He had therefore gone over and punched him but he denied having anything in his hand.

In February 1999 Callaghan was given four years youth custody for slashing someone in the neck with a knife causing a wound which needed 40 stitches. He was released on August 24 last year.

In his defence, Keith Thomas said while both offences were unpleasant "they had been committed on the spur of the moment when he had been drinking."

Mr Thomas said: "One side of him is clearly very unpleasant but there is much good in this young man. He does express shame and remorse for what he has done."

But Judge Boulton told Callaghan: The violence was excessive and gratuitous. It was with the use of glass or a glass object. It caused serious injury. It could have caused much more serious injury. I have to ask whether you still create an unacceptable risk to the public. At the moment I consider you do."