A football fan savagely bit off a part of his friend’s ear in a fight outside a club after his team had lost, a court has heard.
Jamie Richardson, 31, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to a charge of wounding.
Chelsea fan Richardson was drinking at the Columba Club, in Newport , on October 3, to watch his team face Southampton in a Premiership clash.
The Blues went on to lose to the Saints by three goals to one.
Richardson, who was wearing a Chelsea shirt at the time of the offence, was described by prosecutor Nigel Fryer as being “inebriated” and being a “thorough nuisance”.
"The bite takes place to the ear"
Victim Richard Avery, an acquaintance of Richardson’s, was also drinking in the club and described the defendant as being “a bit off” with him.
Mr Avery suggested to Richardson to go outside and calm down and followed him outside.
What ensued was a fight between Richardson and Mr Avery in which Richardson had the upper hand. The fight was caught on CCTV and was shown to the court.
Mr Fryer said: “Both of them were sparring like boxers.
“Mr Richardson was on top and that’s when the bite takes place to the ear.
“You can clearly see Mr Avery holding his ear on the CCTV footage.”
Mr Avery was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital, in Newport, after part of his right ear was bitten off in the fight.
The piece that was bitten off was taken to the hospital but it couldn’t be reattached.
He also received treatment to lacerations behind the right ear as well as receiving 35 stitches and was given vaccination injections.
Pleaded guilty to count of wounding
Richardson was arrested and gave a no comment interview to police but later pleaded guilty to a count of wounding.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Avery said he had suffered “considerable pain” and had had to take five weeks off work.
He added that since the attack, he has a fear of going out and has an anxiety about contracting diseases.
Defence barrister Owen Williams said his client had used “excessive” self defence in the attack following provocation. He added that there was no premeditation.
The court also heard that Richardson had been having issues with depression and anxiety,
Sentencing, Judge Neil Bidder QC said: “This is a case where you had been drinking too much.
“You had been inside in the club making a nuisance of yourself and that had been recognised by Mr Avery who suggested you go outside and he followed you.
“You began violence outside and foolishly Mr Avery became incensed and both of you participated in a fight.
“During the course of that fight, you bit his ear and bit off a significant part of his ear which could not be reattached. He suffered very considerable pain.
“This is a case where I consider greater to harm to have been caused and this is a case of higher culpability with teeth being used as a weapon.”
Richardson, of Sullivan Street, Newport, was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment.
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