Ear bitten in 'barbaric' attack

Liam Culshaw was armed with a broom handle, Swansea Crown Court heard

A man who admitted biting off part of a man's ear after going for a drink with him, has been jailed for two years.

Liam Culshaw and his friend Lee Paglis, who lived in flats in the same house in Pembroke Dock, had argued before the attack, Swansea Crown Court heard.

Culshaw assaulted Mr Paglis and a chase began, ending outside the town's police station. Mr Paglis, who had been bitten on the ear, was found unconscious.

Culshaw admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm.

Judge Gerald Price, who described the attack as "barbaric", jailed Culshaw for the two attacks and sentenced him to 18 months and six months to run consecutively.

'Banter'

On the day of the attack in September, the men had gone for a drink together at the Welshman's Arms pub with Mr Paglis' girlfriend Stephanie Rees.

They each had several pints of lager and after leaving the pub began to exchange banter over where each came from - Mr Paglis from Yorkshire and Culshaw from Liverpool.

It is clearly a serious matter and the injury was very grave Chris Clee, defending

But the banter turned to violence and Culshaw hit his victim to the floor and jumped on top of him, biting off the lobe of his right ear, the court heard.

The court heard that Culshaw continued the assault at flats, after apparently apologising to Mr Paglis, who then fled through the town.

Culshaw, who was armed with a broom handle, caught up with him outside the police station where he carried out the second assault, rendering Mr Paglis unconscious.

The court heard that Pc Gareth James came out from the station after completing his shift and saw Mr Paglis lying unconscious.

Arrest

He called for medical help but saw Culshaw running away and gave chase.

As he tried to talk Culshaw into giving himself up a sergeant arrived and he was arrested.

Culshaw's barrister Chris Clee said: "It is clearly a serious matter and the injury was very grave."

Judge Gerald Price said the use of teeth was tantamount to the use of a weapon.