Teenager 'left with nose hanging off' in Telford nightclub fight

Eighteen-year-old Jordan Jones was left with parts of his nose hanging off after the attack at the Pussycats nightclub in Wellington.

The assailant, Thomas Mitchell, was said to be "like a dog with a toy" when he bit the underside of Mr Jones' nose for some 30 seconds before tearing downwards, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard yesterday.

Robert Edwards, prosecuting, said that on April 5 Mitchell, 19, got into a fight with Mr Jones at the nightclub.

He said Mr Jones was talking to a woman in the nightclub when out of the blue Mitchell walked up to him and pushed his forehead against his for five to 10 seconds.

The pair were said to have traded insults and Mitchell said he told Mr Jones to "watch out", the court heard.

Mitchell then suddenly launched his attack and when he finally pulled away after tasting blood, Mr Jones was left bleeding with parts of his nose hanging off.

Mr Jones was taken to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford before being transferred to Stoke where he was given 28 stitches.

Mitchell, of Mill Stream in Leegomery, was quickly arrested by police and admitted that there had been some pushing and shoving on the dance floor and that he had overreacted.

In police interview Mitchell said he did not know Mr Jones and admitted biting and pulling down on his nose.

He said he did not know why he had done it but that he was angry because he had been drinking alcohol.

Mr Jones had ambitions of becoming a model and had always looked after his personal appearance, the court heard.

However, in a victim impact statement read out in court Mr Jones said he was told he would be left with a permanent scar and that he would have to forget his dream of being a model.

Mr Edwards said: "He has been told he will be left with a scar on his face. When he looks in the mirror or looks at past pictures of himself he gets upset.

"He will also always be prone to nosebleeds."

Jane Dagnall, for Mitchell, said: "He is 19 and is extremely remorseful for what he has done.

"He, of everyone, knows the results of a pub brawl after his dad died as a result of one.

"This is a tragic case where one young man has been scarred for life and another one loses his liberty."

Sentencing Mitchell to two years and two months' detention in a young offenders institution, Judge Peter Barrie said it had been a "moment of madness".

The judge said the number of young men he sees in court after fights in nightclubs was of concern.