A drunken plasterer who bit hard into a man’s ear in a fight over an alleged drug debt has been jailed for two years.

Michael Sargeant sank his teeth into Jason Holdsworth’s ear and hung on for several seconds as they punched and wrestled on the floor of the White Swan in Wibsey, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Sargeant, 27, of Beacon Road, Buttershaw, Bradford, pleaded guilty to wounding Mr Holdsworth with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm on October 2, last year.

Prosecutor Ken Green said Sargeant had been drinking all day and was drunk when he arrived at the pub.

He had borrowed £80 off Mr Holdsworth and promised to repay the money but had not done.

The court was told that Sargeant had denied owing the debt and swore at Mr Holdsworth.

He punched him in the face and the pair began fighting.

Sargeant then grabbed Mr Holdsworth and bit his left ear in a sustained attack lasting a number of seconds.

Mr Holdsworth needed surgery at Bradford Royal Infirmary for two lacerations to his ear.

Sargeant told the police he acted in self defence and that the violence was over a drug debt that he owed Mr Holdsworth.

Mr Green said Mr Holdsworth was on police bail at the time on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs.

After watching CCTV footage of the attack, Sargeant accepted that he struck the first blow and bit Mr Holdsworth’s ear.

He said he felt sickened watching his attack on Mr Holdsworth.

Sargeant’s solicitor advocate, Anne-Marie Hutton, conceded it was “an ugly and unnecessary incident.”

Sargeant was appalled by his actions and had not touched a drop of alcohol since.

He was a hard-working man from a respectable family who felt deeply remorseful about the incident.

The attack was not premeditated and the injury not the worst for that type of offence.

The judge, Recorder Bryan Cox QC, noted Sargeant had pleaded guilty early on and had no previous convictions for serious violence.