A NIGHTCLUB attacker who is now a trainee soldier has six months for the army to make a man out of him – and if they do, he won’t go to jail, a court heard.

Reece Hird, 20, who is from Creswick Avenue, Burnley, but is based at Catterick, glassed Michael Harrison, hitting him in the ear.

The glass smashed on impact.

Mr Harrison, who had to have stitches, had also been about to join the army, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Hird, who has 10 previous convictions for disorder of one form or another and has breached supervision orders, had admitted wounding.

Sentencing was delayed for six months.

He would be kicked out of the forces if he was sent to prison, or even given a suspended term of custody, the court was told.

The defendant, who was accompanied by an officer, is due to pass out in July and if he does, he should be in Afghanistan by October.

Judge Beverley Lunt, who described the incident as ‘nasty’, said the reports she had read on the defendant from the army were positive and he might be growing up.

Philip Holden, for Hird, said he seemed to be showing a great deal of promise.