Savage thug bit off friend’s ear

Ainsley Meanock — jailed

A brute who bit off a friend’s ear in a gruesome attack has been jailed for five years.

Ainsley Meanock (20) was handed the sentence yesterday at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

The court heard how Meanock, of Bankfield Drive, Moorside, held his 18-year-old victim and friend Jamie Eddiestone in a headlock before ripping off his left ear with his teeth and tossing it to one side.

Meanock’s heavily-pregnant girlfriend watched as the court heard the details of what the judge described as a “cold blooded” attack.

Andrea Lock, prosecuting, told the court how the thug had been drinking with friends on the evening of Thursday, July 14, Meanock himself consuming several pints of strong cider and shots of vodka.

An altercation with another gang of men at the Rochdale Road flats led to one of Meanock’s friends being hit around the head with a hammer. At around 3.30am, a scuffle took place in a walkway during which Meanock, said he mistook his victim for a member of the rival group.

He grabbed him in a headlock while members of his group punched and kicked him before lowering his mouth to his face. Footage of the gory attack was caught on camera during which the victim can be heard screaming in agony.

Mrs Lock said: “Men can be heard saying ‘Ainsley, chill out’ and the victim pulls away but he grabs him again. He can be seen tugging on the victim’s face, he moves away and then goes in for a second bite.

“He can then be seen taking something out of his mouth that appears to be the victim’s ear.”

The victim was taken to hospital where he had to undergo an operation which involved 22 stitches and a skin graft from the back of his scalp.

His options now include using cartilage from his ribs to grow a new ear over three years, or to be fitted with a prosthetic alternative.

In a victim statement he said: “I’ve been through emotional and physical pain. I wouldn’t wish my injuries on my worst enemy.

“My injuries have had a massive impact on my confidence. I became depressed and I was isolated in my own home. In the first few weeks I refused to go out on my own.”

The court also heard how Meanock had started a fire on a bus at Oldham bus depot in December, 2006.

A total of £200,000 worth of damage was caused.

In January, 2008, he and two friends attacked a man and left him unconscious in the Mumps roundabout subway before rifling through his pockets and stealing his possessions.

Jonathan Holt, defending, said Meanock was full of remorse and had admitted he had a problem with alcohol.

He said: “He knows he is about to miss the most important years of his first child’s life, and when he’s released he’ll have an alarming amount of catching up to do with the family.”

Judge Timothy Mort sentenced him to five years in prison, with an extended two-and-half year licence period aimed at protecting the public.

Referring to his victim, judge Mort added: “Here is a man who had his whole life in front of him who became depressed and withdrawn. He suffered marked disfigurement. The choice is a horrendous decision for a man of 18 to have to make.”