Victim's 'shock' at sentence for taking 'half my ear off'
A former soldier who went out dressed as Colonel Gaddafi has been jailed for 16 months after biting off part of a man's ear in a "savage" pub attack.
Geraint Evan Jones carried out the "unprovoked" attack after being in an Aberystwyth bar for just six minutes, Swansea Crown Court heard.
Jones, 25, from Aberystwyth, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm but was cleared of doing it with intent.
Gwynant Jones, 25, had reconstructive surgery on his left ear.
Afghanistan veteran Jones was dressed as the former leader of Libya on a "bad taste" pub crawl on Halloween to watch the 2015 Rugby World Cup final when he carried out the "cowardly" attack.
CCTV of a man in fancy dress on the night of the attack was shown to the jury
Geraint Jones arriving at Swansea Crown Court
The court heard Jones, who served on the frontline with the Army, was wearing a black curly wig and bright orange robes during a drinking session of more than six hours.
During his trial, the history and politics degree student said: "I accept biting Gwynant's ear, that day I started to drink while watching the rugby during the afternoon.
"When I approached him, my intention was to bite his ear. It's a horrible thing to do but it was not my intention to bite it off."
Mobile app designer Mr Jones, from Machynlleth, Ceredigion, was at the Academy bar when he was attacked.
Gwynant Jones needed reconstructive surgery on his left ear following the attack
Jurors heard Jones spat part of his ear on the floor and the victim gave police a vivid description of the attacker, who was then spotted on CCTV.
He denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was previously cleared by a jury after just 42 minutes - but pleaded guilty to GBH.
The court heard Jones bit his victim after there was some "pushing and shoving" at the bar.
Sentencing him, Judge Geraint Walters said: "You decided to exact some revenge for it.
"Why then use your teeth as a weapon is the point of which I cannot understand."
He added: "I am prepared to accept that the severing of the ear was as a result of you gripping the ear forcefully with your teeth and in some part because others tried to pull you apart from your victim.
"The reality is, none of that is a comfort to your victim."
The incident happened at The Academy, in Aberystwyth
- Published15 February 2017
- Published14 February 2017
