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More on KentOnline
A menace who laughed as he bit into his friend's face during a birthday party has been jailed for eight years.
“Giggling” Lee Norris from Deal pretended to kiss Samuel Ellis and then sank his teeth into his lip before tearing part off, leaving it “hanging off up to his cheek”.
Prosecutors told Canterbury Crown Court the 34-year-old had been celebrating his birthday with Mr Ellis and Sara Spicer at their home, with children present, when the drama unfolded.
The father-of-two rained punches and kicks on Mr Ellis who lost consciousness.
When he came around he could feel his attacker kissing his lips and giggling.
“This was not an act of affection as the defendant’s next action was to bite the victim’s lip and rip it off leaving him to drift in and out of consciousness,” barrister Simon Taylor said.
Mr Taylor added Norris then grabbed his victim’s neck and said “don’t grass me up” jabbing him in the back with a knife two or three times.
When Miss Spicer tried fending off the attacker he threw her across the room - the focus of his rampage soon turning to police.
After officers arrested the father-of-two he appeared calm, however, once escorted to the police van he headbutted the door, tried biting officers and kicked PC Jared Bloomfield in the face.
Mr Taylor explained Mr Ellis suffered two puncture wounds to his back from a knife, a chunk of lip bitten off, bruising over his face and a bite mark to his right arm.
The court heard the victim’s facial tear ran from his upper lip to left cheek and “the back of his head felt like it had been run-over.”
The jury heard since the attack inside his Freemens Way home Mr Ellis has felt anxious, struggles to leave his home and depressed.
“He has to cut his food into small pieces to eat it,” Mr Taylor added.
Norris, who has two previous convictions for affray and one for battery, remained passive in court.
He pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, assaulting an emergency worker, common assault and criminal damage at a previous hearing.
His defence explained Norris became heavily intoxicated on alcohol, perhaps drugs, and couldn’t remember the events between 5pm-7pm on October 30.
Barrister Mr Ray outlined the attack “lacked premeditation” and his client suffers a “mental disorder.”
“He has to cut his food into small pieces to eat it...”
The details weren’t specified in court, however, Mr Ray said Norris was pursuing help in prison.
“It (the attack) happened spontaneously - there was no warning the defendant was going to act in this way,” he said.
“He has shown determination to address the issues identified by doctor Hussain and the author of the probation report that has contributed to his offending.
“While being on remand he has signed up for a personality disorder course.”
Jailing Norris, who Kent Police were unable to provide a picture of, for eight years Judge Simon James described him as “completely out of control.”
"From all that I have read about you, that you are fundamentally a good person who, following a set of difficult circumstances, has done some terrible things.
"Why you attacked Mr Ellis with this ferocity we will most probably never know.
"It was a serious and sustained attack during which you repeatedly kicked and stamped on his head, bit his lip, and used a knife to inflict further wounds causing permanent disfigurement.
“You were completely out of control.”
Norris, formally also of Freemen’s Way, waved to his family in the public gallery as he was led to the cells.
“I love you all,” he said. When he is release he will be subjected to a restraining order making it a crime for him to contact his victims or enter Freemens Way.
Investigating officer PC Kerry Akast said: "This was a senseless attack on two people he knew and has highlighted what a violent man he is.
"We will continue to investigate all reports of violence to ensure people like Norris are put before the courts. Kent Police will not tolerate mindless acts of aggression or the use of knives.
"Whilst officers are trained to attend volatile situations they should not suffer injuries when they are just trying to do their jobs.
"Thankfully the severity of Norris’ actions have been reflected in his custodial sentence."
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