Llangollen,North Wales - Sheep shearer bit tree surgeon’s ear in street fight

Published date: 26 February 2016 | 

Published by: Staff reporter
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A SHEEP shearer bit a tree surgeon’s ear in a late-night street attack.

James Randles needed 34 stitches and has been left with permanent scarring, Mold Crown Court heard.

Sam Ashley Jones, 24, of Coed Afon, Llangollen, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding following the incident in May.

Sentence was adjourned until today, but Judge David Hale told Jones, described in court as a fit, 6ft 2in man and a talented sheep shearer, it was inevitable he would go to prison.

 A CCTV of the incident was played to the court and Mr Randles, who had attended court to give evidence, was able to show his injury to the judge.

James Coutts, prosecuting, said the victim was waiting for his sister to pick him up outside The Sun Inn at Llangollen when a man – not the defendant – was heard arguing with a young woman and threatening her.

Mr Randles was concerned for her, intervened by saying “don’t speak to her like that”, and the other man left with Jones.

But a short time later Jones returned and was aggressive with his fists clenched.

Realising that he was inevitably going to be assaulted, he used pre-emptive force and said he did not want to fight, Mr Coutts told the court.

But Jones went towards him swinging punches, and Mr Randles defended himself towards an aggressive man.

After two or three minutes of grappling and punching, Mr Randles was able to get on top of him, but the punching from Jones did not stop.

When his sister arrived, Mr Randles was distracted and Jones reached up, pulled his head down towards him and bit him to the ear, causing the serious injury, the court was told.

It took some time for the men to be separated and the victim left in his sister’s car with Jones still being aggressive.

The court heard the victim was a self-employed tree surgeon who had lost earnings and the experience had affected his sleep and confidence.

The judge told the jury panel which had been brought into court to hear the trial that the defendant was “an extremely well known and talented sheep shearer”.

He had no previous convictions for violence and was a hard working lad “not the sort of person you would expect to have done something as serious as this.”

The prosecution did not proceed with a charge of wounding with intent, which Jones denied.

see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/159077/llangollen-sheep-shearer-bit-tree-surgeon-s-ear-in-street-fight.aspx