A man who carried out a bottle attack at a Chorley nightclub has been jailed for 15 months.

Preston Crown Court heard that the victim, Steven Gazal, lost four upper teeth when he was struck in the mouth at Park Hall, Charnock Richard.

The pain only subsided around two weeks later, but he still needed extensive dental treatment after that.

But the man responsible for the injuries woke up next morning unaware of what he had done.

Richard Cowley, 22, of Smithy Lane, Mawdesley, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding.

A co-defendant, Christopher Singleton, aged 24, of The Fields, Eccleston, admitted affray. The offences arose in July last year.

The prosecution described the case as an incident between work colleagues.

Initially Singleton made an abusive comment to another person and some pushing and shoving took place. Ten minutes later, Mr Gazal approached the defendants. Cowley hit Mr Gazal hit in the mouth with a bottle. Mr John Marsh, prosecuting, said it was a single blow.

Defending Cowley, Miss Judith McCullough, said "Richard Cowley cannot remember what happened that night. He woke feeling ,unwell. He was unaware of what he had done."

He had behaved in a manner "quite alien" to him, she said.

His barrister added: "He is of the view he had a kind of drug or that his drink had been spiked in some way."

She said the defendant felt genuine remorse and was concerned for his victim. She said he was a highly thought of young man and ran his own motorcycle repair business.

"He isn't the type of thug you see before the courts day in and day out," Miss McCullough added.

His father was Mr Gazal's employer and he had paid £3,000 towards his dental work.

Judge Robert Brown said: "People should understand if bottles are used as weapons, in circumstances such as this, then a custodial sentence will inevitably follow."