A 21-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for nine months after smashing a glass in the face of another man at a night club.

Malcolm Tidyman thought the other man, who was part of a larger group, was going to hit him, so he pushed the glass into his victim's face.

The injured man suffered a three centimetre cut under his eye which required three stitches. The court heard that the injury was only superficial.

Tidyman, aged 21, of Vernon Street in Bury, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence for unlawful wounding. Judge Bruce Macmillan jailed him for nine months.

Prosecutor Neil Fryman said that the two men had spoken earlier in the evening and there had been some kind of altercation between them.

Tidyman, who had consumed 11 pints and was very drunk, went across to speak to the victim who suddenly stood up. Thinking he was about to be attacked he lashed out with the glass still in his hand.

Tidyman had a previous conviction for excess alcohol, a breach of the peace and obstructing a police officer.

Defending June Morris told the court that Tidyman had been very drunk and that there was a history of violence between the victim and Mather's cousin.

When he hit him he had forgotten he had a glass in his hand. Since the attack, which happened in a Bury night club, the victim had approached him and shook his hand.

Judge Macmillan said he could not overlook the fact that Mather had used a glass as a weapon in licensed premises.