A U.K. man who attacked and bit off parts of another man's face outside a Liverpool nightclub was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison.

Laurence McGinn, 29, and his 31-year-old victim were drinking heavily at the Funky Box last August before the altercation outside the club around 6 a.m., the BBC reports.

McGinn bit off the man's nose, ears and lips.

A police officer described the attack to the news agency as "horrific...almost barbaric." And another said the injuries were "some of the worst many officers will have ever seen."

The victim, who is not named in the report, required extensive treatment, including reconstruction of both ears.