by Keith Hunt

A man bit off the end of a friend's nose after he refused to go out begging with him, a court heard.

Michael Kidner then attempted to take a chunk out of terrified Oliver Rohulan's ear.

The victim was left screaming in pain and covered in blood with part of his nose hanging off. He needed 15 stitches to repair the damage but was scarred.

Now, 27-year-old Kidner, of Livingstone Road, Gillingham, is facing jail after being convicted of unlawful wounding. He denied the charge.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Mr Rohulan was at his Gillingham home on July 26 last year when Kidner arrived unexpectedly with cans of strong cider.

Later, he suggested to Mr Rohulan they could make some money by going begging. But Mr Rohulan did not like the idea, saying it was wrong.

Prosecutor Jonathan Turner said: "The defendant got agitated and annoyed. He reached forward and headbutted him twice. He punched him with both fists around seven times to the face."

Mr Turner explained how Kidner then bit Mr Rohulan's nose "for two to three minutes".

Kidner then started to strangle him and bite his ear but his victim was able to escape, run to a telephone box and call emergency services.

Adjourning sentence for reports, Judge Philip St John-Stevens warned there was likely to be "significant imprisonment".