Man admits biting friend's nose

Cassidy pled guilty to assault at Edinburgh Sheriff Court

A man has admitted biting off his best friend's nose in a fight in Tranent, East Lothian.

John Brash, 20, now has to wear a silicon nose and faces reconstructive surgery following the attack by his friend Charles Cassidy in February.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard they had known each other since childhood.

Cassidy pled guilty to assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement and has been remanded in custody until sentencing next month.

The pair began fighting at a party the night before the incident on 23 February this year, when Cassidy squeezed hair removing cream onto Mr Brash's head.

Mr Cassidy stood up and allowed Mr Brash to get up because he was bleeding profusely from his nose and made his way to the pavement where he collapsed Gillian More Fiscal depute

Hours later, after Mr Brash had gone home, Cassidy, 20, phoned him and said he wanted to finish the fight.

Mr Brash agreed and they met at Coalgate roundabout in Tranent and began punching each other.

The court heard Cassidy knocked his friend to the ground then straddled him.

Fiscal depute, Gillian More, said: "The accused leaned forward, placed his mouth over Mr Brash's nose, bit down hard with his teeth and continued that action for approximately one minute until the nasal tip of Mr Brash's nose ripped off."

"Mr Cassidy stood up and allowed Mr Brash to get up because he was bleeding profusely from his nose and made his way to the pavement where he collapsed.

"Mr Cassidy used his top to attempt to stem the profuse bleeding to the severe wound in Mr Brash's face."

Reconstructive surgery

The fiscal depute said Cassidy had tried to get ice to put on his friend's nose and drove him to accident and emergency at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary instead of waiting on an ambulance.

Mr Brash was found to have an amputated nasal tip and was referred to the St John's Hospital in Livingston for specialist treatment.

An operation to reattach the nose the following day failed and skin was taken from Mr Brash's thigh for a temporary graft onto his nose.

He spent six days in hospital and is due to return for more extensive reconstructive surgery in August.

Mrs More said Mr Brash now wears a silicon nose which he has to attach every day using surgical glue and is now scared to go outside because people stare at him.