A 21-YEAR-old who stabbed a man in a town centre nightclub last year has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Craig Brunie, of Wainfleet in Lincolnshire, slashed his victim across the face with a blade in Block 1 on Bold Street on March 23, 2019.

The 22-year-old victim was left with a 'horrific' 15cm laceration to his face, which required stitches and antibiotics.

Liverpool Crown Court was told today, Tuesday, that the victim was stood on the bar's dancefloor when he was involved in an altercation with a group of men.

The court heard how the victim was seeing the former girlfriend of one of Brunie's friends and the incident may have been 'encouraged' by others.

Prosecutor Simon Duncan said the victim has been left with a 'harsh scar'.

In a victim personal statement read in court, he described how he will rarely go out into Warrington town centre and has had trouble sleeping.

Michael Bagley, defending Brunie, said he pleaded guilty to the incident in June and wishes to apologise for his actions.

Warrington Guardian:

He stressed that his client did not had a good upbringing and was without a stable parental figure.

Originally from Sheffield, Brunie moved to Skegness when he was 16 before 'falling in with a group of lads' from Liverpool.

Mr Bagley told the court how Brunie then moved to Warrington and 'was not keeping the best company'.

He was described as: "A polite and good young man who has done a very bad thing, perhaps to fit in with others."

Judge Thomas Teague, sentencing in Liverpool Crown Court, said: "You have pleaded guilty at the pre-trial preparation hearing in this case to two offences - wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and also being in possession of a bladed article.

"On March 23, 2019, you slashed the face of young man.

"Your involvement was very quick, the whole thing was over very rapidly.

"You managed to cause serious injury with a single blow."

Despite the extent of the victim's injury, Judge Teague said there was nothing to suggest Brunie was a risk of serious harm to members of the public.