AN EX-BURNLEY College student who attacked a 16-year-old boy with a metal dumbbell bar, leaving him unconscious, has been locked up for nine months.

The town's crown court had been told how Waquas Sharif, now 18, had turned up in an Audi with three other youths, waved the bar around and said: "Do you want some?" He then struck the victim on the side of his forehead.

The victim suffered a 5cm gash to the left side of his head, which needed stitches. He had been left scarred at the hands of the defendant, who had been expelled from the college after earlier trouble.

Sharif, of Ethersall Road, Nelson, admitted unlawful wounding, last October 19 and was sent to a Young Offenders' Institution.

Nicholas Courtney, prosecuting, said the defendant, then 17, got out of the Audi, armed with the one-foot-long bar and waved it in the direction of another teenager.

He then hit the victim, who was knocked out for a few seconds.

When he recovered his senses, the 16-year-old was helped by a friend, who took him to his mother. The victim was then taken by ambulance to hospital, where he received treatment under local anaesthetic.

Mr Courtney said the defendant was arrested the day after and the dumbbell was seized from a bedroom. He was questioned, denied the offence in general terms and when asked in more detail, made predominantly no comment.

The defendant had three offences on his record, including threatening behaviour and damage.

Mark Stuart, for Sharif, said he did not have previous similar convictions for similar offences. He was undoubtedly intelligent. He had 11 GCSE's, but had been expelled from his college course and was now attending Training 2000, to try and gain an apprenticeship.

Sentencing, Recorder John Corless said the injury to the victim was 'very unpleasant' and the offence was too serious for a suspended sentence.