A military veteran who bit off part of a man's lower lip has walked free from court. Richard Naylor, 47, of Regent Court, South Hetton, County Durham, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and was sentenced to two years four months suspended for two years with 250 hours unpaid work.
What happened on the day
The victim had been to a pub in Sunderland on May 5. CCTV shows him leaving around 5.25pm at the same time as Naylor and his friend. Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim, who appeared intoxicated, put his arm around Naylor and the trio were in conversation. The victim then prodded and pushed Naylor's friend, and Naylor put him to the ground by swiping his legs then restrained him before releasing him and walking away.
The victim then got close to Naylor's friend, who appeared on footage to be telling him to go away. As Naylor and his pal walked off, the victim picked up an advertising A-board and either struck Naylor with it or threw it towards him. Naylor then squared up to him and punches were thrown by both of them. The victim ended up on the ground and Naylor walked away.
The bite and aftermath
There was then further interaction and the victim ended up on the ground with Naylor straddling him. Ian Cook, prosecuting, said: "It must be at this point he bit him on the lower lip, causing part of that lower lip to be removed." Naylor and his friend went into a pub, followed by the badly wounded victim. He picked up a bottle and searched the pub for Naylor before appearing to have a seizure. Customers called police and they found the piece of bitten-off lip outside.
In a victim impact statement, he said he has been left permanently disfigured and could only open his mouth 25% of what he could previously. He added that he couldn't understand how someone could bite his lip off.
Defence and sentence
When quizzed by police, Naylor said he was acting in self-defence. He said he had been out for a drink with an old army friend and that the victim had accused them of being police officers and would not leave them alone. Jane Foley, defending, said: "The victim refused to leave him alone despite being told to do so. He then armed himself with an A-board and either threw it or struck him with it. He was the aggressor. This was not gratuitous violence. He said in the pre-sentence report he believed he was about to be stabbed and instinctively bit his lip to free himself because he thought he was going to die."
Judge Robert Adams said it was "obviously a very serious offence" but added: "In the circumstances it's not a case where only an immediate custodial sentence is required now." Foley added: "He is a military veteran, he is in full-time employment and his employer remains supportive, notwithstanding these proceedings. He is gutted the victim will remain permanently disfigured."
