A man's face was scarred with a knife while his attacker was high on a cocktail of drink and drugs, a court heard yesterday.

James Heckles, 32, took cans of lager, skunk cannabis, heroin and crack cocaine before slashing Patrick Maxwell with the weapon at a flat in Bradford.

Heckles, of no fixed address, was warned by a judge he could be locked up indefinitely.

Heckles pleaded guilty to maliciously wounding Mr Maxwell with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm on September 16 last year.

He denied assaulting and unlawfully imprisoning Mr Maxwell at the flat in West Lane, Thornton.

Judge Roger Scott said that charge would lie on the file.

Gerald Hendron, Heckles' barrister, said he pleaded guilty on the basis he had downed cans of lager and taken skunk cannabis, heroin and crack cocaine. His recollection of events that day was limited, said Mr Hendron.

Heckles knew he punched Mr Maxwell but did not recall using the knife.

Mr Hendron said Heckles did not admit to bringing the weapon to the flat. It was used at the property to open bags of heroin and crack cocaine.

Judge Roger Scott asked Mr Maxwell, who was to have given evidence in Heckles' trial, to come into court and show him his scarred face.

The judge adjourned sentence until March 4 for the preparation of a probation report. He told Heckles he had a bad record and may qualify for an indeterminate sentence for public protection.