A PLUMBER today re-lived the horror of having a glass shoved in his face as he stood outside a Southampton nightspot.

Michael Dugdale described feeling instant, agonising pain as the glass shattered on impact with his mouth.

It was only after viewing CCTV footage from outside Brannigans that the 29-year-old realised his attacker had been a man whom he had encountered in a different pub earlier that evening.

Today Mr Dugdale, of West End, said: "We were trying to get into Brannigans and were just standing there talking.

"He came up behind me with a glass in his hand and tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and he threw it in my face, then just ran off.

"The glass broke around my mouth. It split my lip and knocked one of my teeth out.

"It is still really painful now. I am about to have the stitches out but the doctors aren't sure whether I will be left scarred or if it will fade."

Mr Dugdale had been out with his girlfriend, brother and friends when the attack happened on Saturday, November 23.

The group had been in the Ferryman and Firkin pub, where they had encountered the same man.

Mr Dugdale said he had warned the man off when he had grabbed his girlfriend and tried to sit her on his lap.

But after a minor altercation, the men shook hands and spent some time laughing and chatting.

Police said it was around 11pm when the man suddenly re-appeared outside Brannigans in High Street and threw the glass into his victim's face.

DC Keith Bailey, of Shirley CID, said: "This was a completely unprovoked attack. It was extremely fortunate that Mr Dugdale was not more seriously injured."

Police said the attacker was white, aged 24 to 26, 5ft 8in, with a slim build, olive skin and short, dark, wavy hair. He wore a black shirt, black jeans and black shoes.

Calling himself James, he claimed to be from Sunderland and spoke with a distinctive Tyneside accent. He said he had been in Southampton a short time, having spent the past few years in Holland.

Information to Shirley CID on 0845 045 4545, or the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.