An army veteran who bit off part of a stranger's lower lip after a “significant degree of provocation” during a city centre night out has kept his freedom.

Richard Naylor ripped off a third of the victim's bottom lip, which was later found outside a pub in Sunderland, and left him permanently scarred.

Newcastle Crown Court heard police retrieved the severed piece of flesh and attempts were made for it to be re-attached during surgery, but the procedure was unsuccessful.

Naylor, 47, of Regent Court, South Hetton, County Durham, who spent time in the Army and now works as a driver, admitted wounding with intent.

Richard Naylor has been sentenced to two years and four months, suspended for two years.

placeholder image — Richard Naylor has been sentenced to two years and four months, suspended for two years.

Judge Robert Adams sentenced him to two years and four months, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation requirements and 250 hours unpaid work.

He said there had been “undoubtedly a significant degree of provocation” and accepted Naylor acted in “excessive self-defence” during the attack on May 3.

The court heard the incident was captured on CCTV and the footage supported Naylor's version of what happened.

Prosecutor Ian Cook told the court Naylor and the victim had left the same pub in Sunderland at around the same time on May 3.

CCTV captured the victim, who appeared to be intoxicated, put his arm around Naylor, who was out with an old Army pal, and the three men walked away in the same direction.

Mr Cook told the court: “The defendant and his friend appear to be pointing and telling the complainant to move away.

“The victim then gets up close to the defendant and repeatedly prods him in the chest and pushes him.

“The defendant then puts the complainant to the ground by swiping his legs.”

The court heard Naylor straddled and restrained the victim on the ground but then released his grip, and he and his friend walked away.

Mr Cook added: “The victim then appears to get close to the defendant’s friend, who looks to be trying to keep the victim at arm's length.

“It appears the defendant's friend was telling the victim to move away in the opposite direction.”

Mr Cook said Naylor and his friend started to walk off, but the victim then picked up an advertising board and either threw or hit him with it.

Naylor and the victim then both appeared to throw punches.

The court heard the victim ended up on the ground with Naylor straddling him and Mr Cook added: “It is not entirely clear from the footage but the Crown suggest it must have been at this point the defendant bites the victim on the lower lip, causing part of the lower lip to be removed.”

Police recovered the severed part of the victim's lip but it could not be re-attached, despite surgery.

The victim can now open his mouth just 25 per cent of the amount previously possible and said in an impact statement he “can't understand” how someone would bite his lip off.

Naylor said after the attack the victim thought he and his friend were police officers and “wouldn't leave them alone”.

Jane Foley, defending, said the victim had "refused to leave them alone" and added: “This wasn't gratuitous violence, it wasn't pre-planned nor motivated by revenge or an attack on a vulnerable victim.”

Miss Foley said Naylor had been “repeatedly assaulted” by the victim, who he wrongly believed had a knife, and added: “He believed he was about to be stabbed and instinctively bit the complainant's lip to free himself because he genuinely believed he was going to die.”

The court heard Naylor has shown remorse and handed in character references.