Clubber who bit off man's NOSE in row over spilt drink jailed for 20 months

Johnathan Ball, 26, pinned Christopher Woolcott's to the floor and sank his teeth into his nose

Johnathan Ball was jailed for 20 months after biting off Christopher Woolcott's nose in a row over a spilt drink

A clubber who bit a broker's nose off after arguing about a spilt drink has been jailed for nearly two years.

Johnathan Ball, 26, sank his teeth into Christopher Woolcott's face at the Babble City cocktail bar in the City of London, the Old Bailey heard.

CCTV footage of the dancefloor showed both Ball and Mr Woolcott enjoying themselves with their own group of friends on the evening of 24 February last year.

But a scuffle broke out after a drink was spilt and Ball grabbed hold of his victim's head, pushed him on the floor and carried out the strange attack.

He clamped down so hard that he bit through the cartilage and flesh and tore off the front part of Mr Woolcott's nose.

The broker was left with blood streaming down his face and needed a skin graft to repair the damage.

Judge Charles Wide QC said the crime was "vicious and serious", telling Ball: "You must have had part of his nose in your mouth after you bit him."

The attack took place at Babble City Bar while both men were out with their friends

The judge sentenced Ball to 20 months imprisonment with an additional four weeks in jail after an earlier suspended sentence was activated.

In August 2006, Ball was convicted of assaulting two police officers, after biting both of them.

He also has a conviction for battery on another officer and numerous other drug-related offences, the court heard.

The horrific attack was described as an act of "real savagery" by prosecutor Mark Gadsden.

The fight started after the two groups "took offence to something that happened", he said.

"It seems the first thing that happened was a drink was spilt over somebody else.

"It deteriorated rapidly from there."

Security guard Ajay Malik said that after spotting the two men brawling on the dancefloor, he pulled them apart to find blood streaming from Mr Woolcott's face.

He added that after he returned from taking the victim for medical attention, he found Ball 'hiding' in a booth with his friends.

"I found the guy, he was sweating and had marks on his face so I felt it was the right man," said Mr Malik.

He also told the court that despite being asked politely on a number of occasions, Ball refused to step outside for a chat.

Ball initially told police the attack was carried out by somebody else but later accepted he was responsible for the injury and claims he acted in self defence.

He told the court he bit off the man's nose to defend himself when the trader tried to gouge his eye out.

"I was like a sheep surrounded by wolves," sobbed Ball, who is 6ft 2 and weighs over 17 stone.

Ball from Whetstone, north London, was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Source: mirror.co.uk