Sunderland thug bit the top off a take-away worker's ear when he refused to give him free food

Wayne Kilty had gone into the Chinese eatery in Sunderland on October 10 and demanded a meal for nothing.

Newcastle Crown Court heard when a worker refused and told him to leave, Kilty threw a plastic visor at him.

After he told Kilty to leave again, the victim was pulled outside, brutally attacked, left with a broken nose and the top of his ear missing.

Kilty, 43, of Stafford Street, Sunderland, who has previous convictions, admitted wounding with intent and has been jailed for 64 months with a 30 month extended licence.

Recorder Mark Giuliani said Kilty poses a "high risk to the public" and told him: "You demanded to be given free food. You were at the time you went into the shop clearly affected by substance abuse.

"He told you to leave the shop and you then threw a plastic visor at him. He came around the counter and asked you to leave again.

"You have said at that point, due to your poor eye sight, you thought you were going to be attacked.

"If that was the case, the simple solution was to turn around and walk out or run out. You did none of those.

"Instead, he was pulled through the doorway and you then proceeded, when he was on the ground, to repeatedly punch him.

"You then bit his ear, causing the top of his ear to be ripped off.

"As a result of the assault he had a broken nose and a piece of his ear missing."

The court heard the victim, who needed plastic surgery and ongoing treatment to his ear, said he had never had an experience like that before and was left worried he may face further trouble for going to the police.

Claire Anderson, defending, said Kilty is "deeply ashamed" of what he did.Miss Anderson said Kilty lost the sight in one eye in an ammonia attack and has cataracts in the other, leaving him with poor vision.

She added that Kilty has suffered bereavement and trauma in his life and uses drink and illicit substances to cope.