A man who tore the ear off a fellow West Cumbria bar customer with his teeth has been jailed — as has the victim.
CCTV footage — played at Carlisle Crown Court today — captured the trouble which flared inside The Kellbank Hotel and Restaurant in Gosforth, just before midnight on July 8, 2023. It involved several people.
An initial video clip showed what prosecutor Tim Evans said was a drunken Christopher Hewer being the bar room bore; loudly talking in other customers’ faces.
Hewer staggered across and began chatting to stranger Paul Connor who, stoney-faced, moved away from incessant chat as a lone staff member sought to prevent disorder.
Hewer initially walked off but returned to the bar and threw a punch towards Connor’s seated group. Matters then moved into the hotel reception where, said Mr Evans: “Violence continues and significantly escalates.”
Hewer’s partner Antonia 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 on to 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.
Connor, 33, of Fenton Close, Speke, Liverpool, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and also affray. Hewer, aged 44, of West View Road; and Holliday, 36, of Hinnings Road, both Distington, admitted affray.
A 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 today’s sentencing hearing, underwent a medical procedure earlier this week with a view to a prosthetic ear being available to him. “Even after two years he is feeling the effects,” said Marion Weir, mitigating.
Holliday acted entirely out of character.
Connor received a four-and-a-half year jail term from Judge Michael Fanning, who accepted he was provoked by Hewer and had not gone looking for trouble.
“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 received an immediate 18-month prison sentence. “You started this,” concluded Judge Fanning. “You provoked Mr Connor to the position he found himself in. You came out of this very much the loser with a very serious injury.”
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.
