A have-a-go hero had part of his ear bitten off after he stopped a thug punching his girlfriend near a garage in Margate.

Michael Atkins will need further treatment and operations to repair the damage caused when Jordan Scott, 22, bit off part of his ear and spat it out, Canterbury Crown Court was told.

Scott, 22, of Broadley Avenue, Birchington admitted wounding Mr Atkins on September 6 and was jailed for four years.

Judge Adele Williams told him: “You were seen assaulting your girlfriend by the victim and when he remonstrated with you, you attacked him and bit his ear off. Happily, the hospital effected a repair and reattached it but part is still missing and this will continue to have an effect on the victim.

“He needs further treatment and operations. This was a sustained assault and was very serious. Alcohol is a problem with you.”

Trevor Wright, prosecuting, said Mr Atkins was going home in a taxi with his partner and while travelling along Northdown Road, Margate he asked the driver to stop near a garage so he could buy cigarettes.

“Mr Atkins saw a man punching a woman and walked over to the couple,” Mr Wright said.

“He raised his arms and said ‘listen fella, this is enough.’”

Scott swung a punch and missed and Mr Atkins got him to the floor. While on the floor he felt pain to his ear and blood starting running down his face. He saw Scott spit something out.”

Scott had previous convictions for assault and battery.

John Barker, defending, said Scott was remorseful about the incident. “He is struggling to believe that he could have conducted himself in this way,” Mr Barker said. “He is shocked and horrified that he behaved in the way he did.”

Mr Barker said Scott had minor convictions for violence in the past arising out of alcohol.

“But the extremity of this is out of character,” Mr Barker added. “A week or so before this happened his grandmother died and this contributed to a sense of anger which manifested itself in the way it did. This is not a particularly serious injury.”

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