Man's ear bitten off in vicious late night bar brawl caught on CCTV

A 'bar room bore' had his ear bitten off in a vicious late night attack captured on CCTV, a courthas heard.

Horrific footage from inside the Kellbank Hotel in Gosforth, Cumbria, showed Christopher Hewer having his left ear bitten off by Paul Connor as he tried to escape his 'incessant chat', Carlisle crown court heard. Tim Evans, prosecutor, said that a drunk Hewer was "being the bar-room bore" and a fight involving several people ensued after he approached stranger Paul Connor at about midnight on July 8, 2023, who initially tried to move away from his "incessant chat" The pair came to blows and Connor used both hands to grab Hewer's head, leaning towards him and biting his left ear completely off before spitting it onto the ground.

A stunned female bystander collected the severed ear in a serviette, the court heard, as customers and the only member of staff attempted to stop the fight. Connor, 33, of Fenton Close, Speke, Liverpool, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and also affray. He received a four-and-a-half year jail term from Judge Michael Fanning, who accepted he was provoked by Hewer.

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"But I have to deal with you for what you have done," said the judge. "You have used a weapon to inflict this injury. Use of the teeth is a weapon." Hewer, 44, of West View Road in Distington, near Workington, Cumbria, admitted affray and was handed an 18-month prison sentence.

"You provoked Mr Connor to the position he found himself in," said Judge Fanning. "You came out of this very much the loser with a very serious injury." Hewer's partner Antonia Holliday, 36, of Hinnings Road, Distington, Cumbria also took part in the violence that night, the court heard. Cumbria Police released a custody photoof Hewer with his left ear missing.

CCTV footage shown during the hearing showed her punching out at another customer, and being punched. Connor kicked Holliday and was punched by her, before the physical altercation with Hewer.

She was given a 15-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, with the judge noting she was the sole carer of two children. She must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and an alcohol ban.

The judge considered background information on all three, hearing they were sorry for their wrongdoing. Connor, a tree surgeon and dad-of-two, had acted out of character as "something snapped" when he was provoked, said his barrister Kim Whittlestone.

Appliance engineer Hewer, who wore a head bandage during the sentencing hearing, underwent a medical procedure with a view to a prosthetic ear being fitted. "Even after two years he is feeling the effects," said Marion Weir, mitigating.

Holliday could be seen punching out at another customer, and being punched. Connor kicked Holliday and was punched by her. Connor was struck by Hewer before the two men exchanged blows.

Connor then used both hands to grab Hewer’s head, leaning towards him and biting his left ear completely off before spitting it onto the ground. Hewer initially appeared oblivious to the savage act, while Holliday fell after being punched to the head by Connor.

Mr Evans said: “It to the credit of a number of people, none more so than the staff member, that they try to stop the violence.” A stunned female bystander collected the severed ear in a serviette.

Holliday’s 15-month custodial term was suspended for a year, the judge noting she was the sole carer of two children. She must complete 200 hours’ unpaid work and an alcohol ban.