Yahoo News Drunk thug bit man's lip in Halloween attack with 'injuries seen forever on wedding photographs'
A drunk thug who was leaving a street fight in Brotton attacked the partner of a woman who was trying to help him.
Paul Pattison, 43, bit down on the man's lip for ten seconds, whilst '"ragging the victim's head around' at the same time. The victim - who is one of Pattison's neighbours - had to have a 4cm wound on his lip stitched up in hospital and needed a hepatitis vaccine.
Teesside Crown Court has heard that he was left with nerve damage to his lip, which means that he dribbles when he drinks, a year on from the attack October 31, 2023. On Friday, Pattison appeared in the dock to be sentenced.
READ MORE: Thug followed two men with hammer and came home with stab wounds in 'rather berserk' street fight
The court heard that he was injured in a fight on his own street, which involved lots of people. Pattison was seen to be bleeding from his head when he walked away from Millholme Terrace in Brotton.
A neighbour tried to help him, but when the children who were with her became distressed, she asked Pattison to leave. The woman's partner intervened, by pushing Pattison away.
John Hobley, prosecuting, told the court: "Mr Pattison bit him in a holding bite for ten seconds. He ragged the victim's head around at the same time. Another man then ran over and punched the victim..."
The victim and his partner, who were due to get married days afterwards, went home. They later told the police that Pattison had been "slurring his speech."
When he was arrested, Pattison tried to bite the police officer's hand. He told police that he had been, "four, or five, out of ten drunk" but refused to reply to questions about attacking his neighbour. He later pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He has previous convictions for battery; assaulting a police officer and for causing grievous bodily harm.
In mitigation, Tabitha Buck, said that it was a "spontaneous attack" after Pattison had been injured himself and "had significant bleeding from his head." Ms Buck said that her client has had a "difficult upbringing" after his mum and sister died in a fire.
"He was split up from his ten other siblings and brought up in care. He had no adult authority figure. Three years ago, he lost his daughter - she died whilst his partner was giving birth to her."
Pattison's partner watched from the public gallery as the court heard that Pattison has been diagnosed with PTSD; but that he has kicked his heroin habit.
Judge Mark McKone told Pattison: ""A number of people were fighting in the street - it is not possible to work out what caused that fighting. You suffered a cut to that head and I accept that that your injury affected your temper.
"But this was a serious assault - it was a 'holding bite for ten seconds' - and his injuries will be seen forever on his wedding photographs. He's got nerve damage that causes him to dribble."
Pattison, of Millholme Terrace, was handed a 16-month prison term, suspended for two-years. He was ordered to attend 30 rehabilitation days. "If there's any further violence, you should expect a long prison sentence" the judge added.
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