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Jailed: Thug who left clubber fighting for his life after Faces Wolverhampton attack

A thug who stabbed another young man during a massive brawl at a city centre nightclub was starting a five-and-a-half year sentence behind bars today.

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Courtney Glassford, aged 20, plunged a blade into the stomach of 22-year-old Lewis Croll at Faces in Bilston Street, Wolverhampton, a judge heard.

The victim suffered a serious injury, spent five days under intensive care following emergency surgery and was fortunate to survive, the city's Crown Court was told.

Violence flared during an R&B DJ night at the club at around 1.50am on Good Friday last year.

Mr Ian Windridge, prosecuting, explained: "Trouble started on the dance floor with a fight between two men that spread to others.

"Lewis Croll was caught up in the trouble and was stabbed around half an hour later."

The victim was seriously injured and police – called to the club after the disturbance started – gave him emergency first aid until paramedics could reach the scene.

The injured man was taken to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he received blood and plasma during emergency surgery and spent five days in intensive care. He has now made a good recovery, the court heard.

Mr Windridge continued: "Police checked CCTV at the club and Glassford was seen with an object in his hand a minute before the stabbing and was seen shortly afterwards walking down the stairwell still holding it." The actual attack was not filmed.

A number of other people at the R&B event were treated for minor injuries. The club shut early following the disorder.

Detectives investigating the April 3 stabbing made a public appeal for help in tracing Glassford and he was finally detained more than four months later on August 11 in Bilston Street close to the club.

He had been on bail for drug dealing at the time of the stabbing after being caught with heroin and cocaine in Broom Street, Hanley, on November 24, 2014 – along with Devontay Fyffe, also 20. Both admitted possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.

Mr Mukhtar Ubhi, defending Glassford, of Deans Road, Eastfield, who also pleaded guilty to wounding Mr Croll with intent, said: "The stabbing was not gang related. He did not bring the knife with him but found it at the scene."

He was ordered to be detained in a Young Offenders Institution for a total of five-and-a-half years by Recorder Ben Nicholls, who told him: "Mr Croll could have died had it not been for prompt medical treatment."

Fyffe, from Griffiths Drive, Ashmore Park, was detained for two years, eight months for the drug offence.

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