AN ex-soldier "glassed" a man outside a Burnley nightclub in a copycat offence to one he committed in the Army, a court was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard how police were about five metres away when postman Shaun Sanders, 21, ran at Neil Cash, leaving his face cut and bruised. The defendant, who was dismissed from the Army after a similar attack which left his victim's sight affected, was sent to prison for two years.

Sentencing him, Recorder Anthony Sander said his behaviour had been disgraceful and it may be good fortune more than anything else that the victim's injuries were not more severe.

He told the defendant, who had drunk two litres of strong cider and three pints of lager, his actions had been affected by drink, but that was no excuse.

The judge added the offence committed whilst he was in the Army had far too many similarities to the most recent assault for him to ignore it. Sanders, of Kyan Street, Burnley, had earlier admitted unlawful wounding, last September.

David Pickup, prosecuting, said Mr Cash, 28, had been to The Works nightclub in Burnley and left at about 2.50am. He was seen standing outside the club when the defendant then ran from the club and hit him on the side of the face. Mr Cash's face was showered in broken glass and he began to bleed heavily.

When Sanders was interviewed, he said he could not remember, as he had been "off his face." Mr Pickup said Sanders had faced a court martial whilst in the forces and been sentenced to 20 months. He had been dismissed from HM Forces.

Anthony Cross, defending, said Sanders believed somebody had had an altercation with his friends inside the club and that the person he saw outside was responsible. He said there was something in the defendant's personality which at a time of crisis caused him to snap and lose his temper. It was invariably associated with the consumption of alcohol.