Jailed: Telford man, 24, bit off part of former friend's ear

Nathan Prince, 24, of Littlecroft, Oakengates, admitted two charges of causing grievous bodily harm during a hearing at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court.

Judge Jonathon Gosling said Prince had left his victim with a “dreadful injury”.

The victim was said to have been left in the dark looking for the piece of his ear, which could not be reattached.

Sati Ruck, prosecuting, said the assault had taken place on June 22 last year after a dispute about a car chase.

It was sparked by an incident where Prince, the victim and a friend, had come across each other in their cars in Stafford Road shortly before 11pm.

The judge accepted there was a dispute over who had chased who but said the result had been the awful injury which left Prince’s victim mutilated.

Prince and the two other men had ended up on a driveway where there was a struggle that resulted in part of the victim’s ear being bitten off.

The court was told the two men had been friends but had fallen out previously.

Judge Gosling said: “You became involved in a tussle, he may have got the better of you at that moment but what you did was unforgivable and out of proportion to the situation

“You pulled his head towards you and literally bit off the top portion of his ear.

“He was in a state of panic looking around in the dark for his ear, which he found but could not be reattached.

“This was a dreadful injury. You mutilated him and used your teeth as a weapon.”

Judge Gosling added: “You have not even shown a shred of remorse for what you have done to that man.”

The court heard a second incident had left a different victim with a fractured jaw, as a result of an unprovoked punch from Prince.

The attack took place at a home in Church Street, St Georges, Telford, in the early hours of the morning on December 18, last year – while Prince was on bail for the previous offence.

The court heard that Prince had been involved in an argument and had returned to the property where several people were relaxing after a night out, and punched a man sat down, in an unprovoked attack.

The victim was said to have been drinking and not in a position to defend himself. The injury required surgery and the removal of one of his teeth.

Delroy Henry, mitigating, said the bite had been a reaction to the situation. He said: “It was a reaction in the heat of the moment that your honour may feel he was ill equipped to deal with.”

He added: “He has got a lot of growing up to do and readily recognises he must do it.”

Prince was sentenced to four years and two months custody.