By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 12:13, Thursday, 13 August 2009

A Carlisle man admitted in court that he had bitten off part of another man’s ear.

Related: Part of Cumbrian man's ear bitten off during house attack - court

But Colin Gibson, 31, said he had only done it to protect himself.

Gibson told a jury at Carlisle Crown Court that Phillip Davis attacked him after “exploding” with rage during a drinking session at a house in Maryport.

“He was a crackpot,” he said. “I feared for my life.”

Gibson said his friend Michael Lee, 20, in whose home the incident happened, had punched Mr Davis during an argument.

He said he had gone over to calm things down, but Mr Davis had grabbed him in a bear hug and thrown him to the floor.

“He was on top of me on the floor and hit me with about five very, very hard punches,” he said. “It was either him or me. That is why I bit him first. I beat him to the bite.”

Gibson said he was convinced that Mr Davis was going to bite his lip off.

“If a man has got you face to face, and is baring his teeth, he is not going to kiss you,” he said.

Gibson, of Grey Street, off London Road, Carlisle, and Lee, of Ellenfoot Drive, Maryport, have both pleaded not guilty to wounding Mr Davis with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The prosecution say that though it was Gibson who inflicted the bite wound, both are guilty because it was a joint attack.

On Tuesday Mr Davis said he tried to leave the house but was stopped by Lee punching him.

“I felt a ripping in my right ear,” he said. “That was Colin Gibson and Michael Lee was shouting ‘bite his lug off’.”

The trial continues.

First published at 11:31, Thursday, 13 August 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk