Liam EllisA YOUNG Trowbridge rugby player is facing a jail term after headbutting a teenager in a town centre nightclub.

Trowbridge Rugby Club player Liam Ellis, 21, attacked 19-year-old Paul Carroll following a petty row in Trowbridge Snooker Club, while on a night out with fellow players.

Lifeguard Mr Carroll needed seven stitches to his lip following the attack, in which he was smashed in the face with a plastic cup.

Ellis, of Warbler Close, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm at Chippenham Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Prosecutor Andy Pritchard said Ellis and Mr Carroll clashed on the club's busy dancefloor, after one of the rugby players seemingly barged into the teenager.

Mr Pritchard said the victim felt a sharp pain to his nose and eye socket, and temporarily lost consciousness.

"On coming round he saw the defendant's head coming away from him," he said.

"He assumed he had been headbutted and this was confirmed by other witnesses.

"Having recovered from the headbutt, it was followed up by an immediate thrusting of the defendant's hand into his face."

Mr Pritchard said Ellis was holding a plastic cup, which smashed on impact and left the victim with a gashed lip. Other injuries included a bruised eye and nose, scratches, a grazed eyebrow and a chin injury.

Defence solicitor Nicola Jennings said Ellis had been at a presentation evening at Trowbridge Rugby Club on the night of the attack, and was drunk by the time he reached the nightclub.

Miss Jennings said: "The victim said something to Mr Ellis, unfortunately he cannot remember what.

"Mr Ellis cannot explain why he reacted to the comment made.

"He followed the headbutt with two punches but he cannot recollect having a plastic glass in his hand."

Ellis left school with 9 GCSEs and had a brief spell in the Army before being discharged.

Miss Jennings said the attack was "completely out of character".

Lead magistrate David Randolph told Ellis: "You should anticipate that a custodial sentence is quite likely."

The case was adjourned until June 24.

Ellis and a fellow player were requesting a song from the DJ when the fight erupted.

Magistrates heard how Ellis had an interview this week for a job in the prison service, but his conviction meant he was no longer eligible to apply.

"This is a very serious matter. It was an unprovoked headbutt in licensed premises. It was fuelled by alcohol and you followed it up with punches," he said.