Rugby player is fined for bite bid

2:56pm Tuesday 12th February 2008

A 21-year-old man who had played for Keighley Cougars and was hoping to embark on a career as a rugby league player, attempted to bite a man's ear outside a Bingley pub, a court heard.

Christopher Clough of Western Street, Keighley, admitted to being drunk and disorderly outside the Old White Lion pub on February 2 when he appeared before Bingley magistrates.

Magistrates were told that when police officers arrived, Clough told them he had been assaulted. He was shouting and swearing, was asked to move away and then was seen to attempt to bite a man's ear.

Amjid Khad, for Clough, said his client was assaulted and lost his composure when other men started jeering. He denied attempting to bit a man's ear saying he was speaking to a friend, said Mr Khad.

Magistrates fined Clough £40 and ordered him to pay £40 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.