A BURLY reveller called at a late night garage for a snack, and ended up biting a six square centimetre chunk off the attendant’s ear, a court heard on Thursday (August 13).

Thomas Allan was dropped off at the Auld Brig petrol station near Tullibody, by a taxi, which then drove off, Stirling Sheriff Court was told.

The filling station was open but the doors were locked, with customers able to buy goods and fuel through a “night pay” window.

Beverly Adam, prosecuting, said Allan (32), whom she described as “pretty drunk”, attended at the night pay window and asked to purchase food.

Filling station attendant Gordon Burns collected a number of items from display on his behalf, and went to the window with them.

The taxi then left, and Allan tried to pay Mr Burns for the items he wanted to purchase using his bank card.

Miss Adam said: “There was a verbal disagreement between the pair, and the complainer [Mr Burns] opened the door of the shop and walked out towards the accused on the forecourt.

“It is apparent from CCTV footage that the pair were having words.

“The complainer ran towards the accused, and attempted to punch him but missed.

“They were then involved in an exchange of blows, which led to them both being on the ground.

“During the course of the fight the accused bit the complainer on the left ear, with sufficient force to bite part of his ear off.” Mr Burns ran back inside the garage, and telephoned for help.

Miss Adam said: “Officers attended and noted that the complainer was bleeding, and the missing piece of his ear was lying on the forecourt.” Allan was detained nearby, and Mr Burns was taken to hospital in Larbert before being transferred to St John’s Hospital in Livingston where he was seen by plastic surgeons.

They found that a three centimetre by two centimetre piece was missing from his ear, where Allan had bitten right through the skin and the cartilage. He also had a bite on his back.

The ear injury was cleaned up and closed, but the missing section could not be reattached. Mr Burns was sent home with painkillers and antibiotics.

Miss Adam said: “The injury will lead to permanent disfigurement.” Allan, of Main Street, Cambus, Clackmannanshire, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault to severe injury, under provocation.

After viewing the CCTV footage of the incident, which occurred at 4am on 19 September last year Sheriff Wyllie Robertson deferred sentence for reports.

Defence agent Claire McCarron said she would reserve her speech in mitigation for the sentencing hearing, and Allan was released on bail.