A teenage thug who bit off part of another youth's ear in the street after stubbing out a cigarette in his eye has been locked up for three years and four months.

Dilan Hassan was drunk when he approached Tom Harris in Maidstone town centre near Gabriel's Hill in the early hours of September 4 last year.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Hassan thrust the lit cigarette into the victim's eye and headbutted him on the nose.

Mr Harris, 19, told later how Hassan laughed and walked off. He caught up with him and asked him why he had done it.

He was grabbed by Hassan and held in a headlock and he then felt pain in his left ear. Others intervened and pulled Hassan away.

Mr Harris was taken to hospital and treated for a severed ear, a fractured nose and a burn to the corner of his eye.

" you are plainly old enough to know how to behave better…” – judge david griffith-jones qc

Hassan, of Old Orchard Lane, Leybourne, West Malling, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC told the plumber: "You are a young man of previous good character. Indeed, it is of great sadness to see you standing there in the dock being sentenced for such a serious offence.

"You have a lot going for you. You did well at school and have since embarked on a career as a plumber.

"But at the age of 19 you are plainly old enough to know how to behave better. I accept the remorse you expressed is genuine."

The judge said the offence was so serious youth custody was inevitable.

Hassan was sentenced to three years four months for the grievous bodily harm charge and 12 months concurrent for actual bodily harm.