by Keith Hunt

A friendship of more than 10 years came to a bloody and horrific end when two men came to blows and one of them had his ear bitten off, a court heard.

In agony and with blood pouring from the wound, Stirling Carey claimed Elliott Ashley ordered him to pick up the severed ear because it was making him feel sick.

But Mr Ashley was cleared of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and an alternative charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm after claiming he retaliated in self-defence.

Giving evidence screened from the dock by curtains, Mr Carey said he went to Mr Ashley’s home in Birling Road Snodland, on May 15 last year after receiving a text from him.

When he arrived they had drinks. After a while Mr Ashley told him he had to go to his mother’s home in East Malling to collect some money and “weed”.

Mr Carey said he drove his pal to the address and they went into the garden.
“I heard the gate lock,” he said. “I heard my name. When I turned around the first blow took place. I believe it was a piece of wood that struck me in the mouth.

“Before I could do anything, another blow hit me in the face. I was down on one knee. He kneed me in the face. He had a screwdriver in his hand.

“He said: 'I am going to ---- you up.’ He said I have said he is a grass. I started screaming, saying: 'What’s this all about? I thought we were mates.’
“I was punched in the head again. I remember him coming at me. I didn’t realise what he was doing at first.

“It wasn’t until he pulled away that he spat my ear out. I was in pain. There was blood everywhere.

“At one point I picked up a half brick. I wanted to get him with it because the attack was so atrocious.

“He spat the ear out in front of me. He told me to pick it up because it was making him feel sick. I had a watch in a case. He told me to take the watch out and put the ear in it.”

Mr Carey said he kept passing out. Mr Ashley drove him to Maidstone Hospital and left him in the car about 800 yards away.
He staggered inside and the severed ear was stitched back on. He was also treated for other injuries.

Elliott Ashley claimed he bit off Mr Carey’s ear as he was about to be attacked with a brick.

“It all happened in a split second,” he told the jury. “I was in shock over it. I have got to live with it as well.

“I was on the floor and he was on top of me with a brick in his hand. He was pretty close. He was about to come down with that brick and I bit out.

“It could have been his cheek. I didn’t mean to go for his ear. I was just about to get my head stoved in with the brick."

He wept as the jury delivered the not guilty verdicts.