A MAN who admitted biting off a former friend's ear was cleared of wounding charges on Thursday.

David Gostling claimed he was acting in self-defence to stop his eyes being gouged out when he caused the injury to Mark Derry.

It was the second time that Gostling, of Larkfield Avenue, Gillingham, had stood trial on wounding with intent and unlawful wounding charges. At his first trial in February the jury could not agree on verdicts.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that 18-year-old Mr Derry needed four reconstruction operations on his ear.

He had gone to the Star pub in Watling Street, Gillingham, with his girlfriend on the May 3 last year.

Martin Joy, prosecuting, said during the evening Gostling, 20, punched Mr Derry to the back of the head and knocked him to the ground.

He said: "There was a struggle on the ground and during that struggle he bit Mark's ear, causing a horrendous injury, biting a large part of it off.

"Unfortunately, the injury was too severe to re-attach the part and so he was left with a large part of his ear missing."

Gostling looked relived as the jury of nine men and three women returned the unanimous verdicts on the alternative charges.