By staff reporter

Last updated at 12:06, Wednesday, 12 August 2009

A man bit off part of another man’s ear while his friend shouted “bite off his lug”, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

Michael Lee and Colin Gibson are accused of attacking Phillip Davis at Lee’s home in Maryport in January.

Lee, 30, of Ellenfoot Drive, and Gibson, 31, of Grey Street, off London Road, Carlisle, both deny wounding Mr Davis with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

The court was told that the mood turned sour when the three men sat drinking.

Prosecutor David Polglase: “This was a joint attack. The victim was punched in the face by Lee and had his right ear bitten by Gibson – a piece of his ear was bitten off.”

But during police interview Gibson said he was acting in self defence and Lee said he was not in the room when it happened.

Giving evidence via video link, Mr Davis, who is still waiting for an operation to reconstruct his ear, told the court that he had met his girlfriend Alexandra Pullen on an internet dating site and was on his first visit to her home in Maryport on January 17.

The court heard that Lee, who was once married to Miss Pullen, is now in a relationship with her sister Eileen Pullen who is pregnant with his child.

This was said to have caused some animosity between the sisters.

Following an earlier fall out, Mr Davis and Miss Pullen went to Eileen’s home on Ellenfoot Drive to drink and make peace.

Mr Davis said that the talk turned to drugs and he was called a “mug” by the other men for saying he didn’t touch drugs.

Mr Davis said: “Gibson started getting wound up and aggressive, saying he was going to chin us.”

He added that he tried to leave but was punched in the head by Lee leaving him dazed.

Mr Davis added: “Then I felt a ripping in my right ear – the one that is missing.

“That was Colin Gibson and Michael Lee was shouting ‘bite his lug off’.”

Defence barrister for Gibson, Frank Nance said that Mr Davis had been “bigging himself up” to the men saying he was “hard”, that he had bitten someone’s lip off and that his brother had served time for murder.

The trial continues.

First published at 11:30, Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk