Bit friend's nose in 'animalistic' attack

A 30-year-old man who bit his friend's nose during a 'serious and savage' attack has been jailed for three years and ordered to spend a further 18 months on probation.

Londonderry Crown Court Judge Piers Grant told Declan Harry Jennings that the assault on the man was 'animalistic.'

Judge Grant said biting someone on the nose "represents an absoutely disgusting physical attack on a human being. It is animalistic behaviour which is ultimately unacceptable. It should be condemned by any right thinking person and by any court."

Jennings, whose address was given on court papers as Canterbury Park, Kilfennan pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm relating to an incident outside the injured party's Shantallow home on December 22, 2008.

The assault occurred after Jennings sent text messages to the injured party, which had a sexual content.

The man phoned the number and recognised Jennings voice, as he had known him for 25 years.

He told the 30-year-old to stop sending the text messages.

A couple of days later the injured party was taking his dog for a walk, when he met Jennings and they had words before they began exchanging blows.

Jennings’ parents who lived close-by came to the injured party's assistance and phoned an ambulance for him.

The man, who was in his fifties at the time of the attack, required eight stitches to his nose and had a number of other facial injuries and bruises. He also had a broken leg, although it was accepted this was not caused by a blow from Jennings.

A prosecutor told the court the injured party still has 'concerns about his personal security as he has had unwelcome visits.'

She revealed the last time this happened was one week after Jennings was rearraigned, however she added that there was no 'evidential link' between these visits and the 30-year-old.

The judge said that if the police ever do make a link between Jennings and anyone causing 'upset' to the injured party, the court 'will deal with it most severely.'

A defence barrister told the court the assault wasn't premeditated but occurred after a 'chance encounter' between the two men.

He added that there was no animousity between them prior to the assault and this 'unfortuante incident' had ended their friendship, which in the past had including going on fishing trips and on holiday together.

Passing sentence on Jennings, Judge Grant said the 30-year-old had an 'appalling record' which included a jail term for a 'serious' assault on a former girlfriend.

The judge told Jennings the assault on his friend was a "nasty, vicious and violent attack which this court will take a serious view of."

As well as the custody probation order, the judge banned Jennings from Drumleck Gardens for two years after his release from prison and ordered him to have no contact with the injured party.