A MAN suffered serious facial injuries and lost a tooth in a fight outside Utopia nightclub.

Blackburn magistrates heard that While Stuart Robert Regan accepted being part of the incident he had always denied direct responsibility for any of the injuries sustained by Craig Holroyd.

Regan, 20, of Kirkdale Road, Langho, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour. No evidence was offered by the prosecution on two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and they were dismissed. The magistrates ordered the preparation of pre-sentence reports and Regan was remanded on bail until January 26.

Emma Kehoe, prosecuting, said as Mr Holroyd was leaving with his brother and friends they were approached by a group, including Regan, and there was a fight.

Adrian Williams, defending, said it was accepted that everyone concerned had been drinking and there had been a dispute inside the nightclub. "There were a lot of people involved and there were two or three separate incidents," said Mr Williams.

"My client accepts he was involved in a scuffle, together with others, but he has always denied that he was responsible for any injuries to anyone."