05-07-2025
Reveller took huge bite out of man's ear in random Pink nightclub attack
Reveller Thomas Cotterill bit off half of a man's ear in an unprovoked attack on a night out in Hanley. The 30-year-old was drinking in Pink nightclub, in Stafford Street, when he 'randomly' sunk his teeth into his victim's ear.
The assault was captured on CCTV at 4am on March 31 last year. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the victim required surgery to try to repair the injury, although he was only left with half an ear.
In a victim impact statement, the victim detailed how he's now riddled with anxiety, affecting his relationship with his children, friends and family members.
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Barry White, prosecuting, said: 'The victim was in complete shock and couldn't remember what happened or why it happened. He had surgery and received a number of stitches to his ear and skin grafts.'
Cotterill, of Victory Crescent, Cheadle, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm. Catherine O'Reilly, mitigating, said: 'The defendant is at a loss of what happened that night, he cannot put forward any explanation.
"He was under the influence of alcohol and he has been transparent about that. Without analysing his behaviour which he accepts is shocking, he cannot put forward an explanation.
"His behaviour worsens when in alcohol and believes this could be the reason for his manner, but that is speculation. He has a strong desire to make amends and has self referred himself to anger management.
'He rarely drinks or socialises and has made significant changes to his life to make sure he's not in a position where he might act like this again. He is incredibly highly thought of by a number of people.'
Cotterill was sentenced to three years imprisonment. Judge Graeme Smith told him: 'You know why you are standing where you are today. At 4am on March 31 2024 an incident occurred which seems to have had no obvious provocation, which resulted in you biting off half of the victim's ear. Witnesses say the attack came from nowhere.
'We are at a loss of why this happened, firstly because you were intoxicated by alcohol and secondly, you were hypervigilant and seem to have forgotten what happened. This has had a physical and mental effect on the victim which we have heard in his personal impact statement.'
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A 30-year-old man has been sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm. Thomas Cotterill, of Victory Crescent, bit off half of another man's ear on a night out.
The Cheadle man was drinking in Pink nightclub, in Stafford Street, Hanley, when he randomly attacked his victim. The incident, which took place on March 31 last year, was caught on CCTV footage.
The victim required surgery to somewhat repair his ear, although he was only left with half an ear. In a victim impact statement, the victim detailed how he's now riddled with anxiety, affecting his relationship with his children, friends and family members.
Barry White, prosecuting the case, said: 'The victim was in complete shock and couldn't remember what happened or why it happened. He had surgery and received a number of stitches to his ear and skin grafts.'
Catherine O'Reilly, mitigating, said: 'The defendant is at a loss of what happened that night, he cannot put forward any explanation. He was under the influence of alcohol and he has been transparent about that. Without analysing his behaviour which he accepts is shocking, he cannot put forward an explanation.
'[His behaviour worsens when in alcohol and believes this could be the reason for his manner, but that is speculation. He has a strong desire to make amends and has self referred himself to anger management.
'He rarely drinks or socialises and has made significant changes to his life to make sure he's not in a position where he might act like this again. He is incredibly highly thought of by a number of people.'
Cotterill was sentenced to three years imprisonment.
His Honour Judge Graeme Smith said: 'You know why you are standing where you are today. At 4am on March 31 2024 an incident occurred which seems to have had no obvious provocation, which resulted in you biting off half of the victim's ear. Witnesses say the attack came from nowhere.
'We are at a loss of why this happened, firstly because you were intoxicated by alcohol and secondly, you were hypervigilant and seem to have forgotten what happened. This has had a physical and mental effect on the victim which we have heard in his personal impact statement.'
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