Sheffield man severed pub regular's ear in “freak” attack

A 60-year-old Sheffield man who hurled a fellow drinker into a pub wall, severing the top part of his ear, has been spared prison, a court heard.
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Craig Greenfield's "totally unprovoked attack" happened in the Wordsworth Tavern, in Parson Cross, at 4pm, on July 22, last year.

CCTV showed Greenfield obstructing his 59-year-old victim as he tried to go outside for a cigarette, before throwing him into a shelf near the door, prosecutor Louise Gallagher told Sheffield Crown Court, on Friday.

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It's thought he struck his head on the sharp edge of the shelf, cutting off the top part of ear cartilage.

Craig Greenfield's "totally unprovoked attack" happened in the Wordsworth Tavern, in Parson Cross.Craig Greenfield's "totally unprovoked attack" happened in the Wordsworth Tavern, in Parson Cross.
Craig Greenfield's "totally unprovoked attack" happened in the Wordsworth Tavern, in Parson Cross.

Greenfield collected it from the floor and returned it to the man as he tried to clean-up the bleeding in the toilet.

Staff offered to call an ambulance, but the man walked home "by a different route because he was afraid the defendant was following him."

But a neighbour saw him collapse and he was taken to hospital where surgeons were unable to reattach the ear cartilage, Ms Gallagher added.

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Richard Adams, mitigating, said the injuries "were verging on freak given the circumstances."

He said Greenfield had worked all of his life until a series of strokes 14 years ago, and he now suffers from memory impairment, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and asthma.

He said Greenfield's "social life revolves around the Wordsworth Tavern" and there was "no suggestion of any prior bad blood" between the two men.

"There was banter between them earlier in the day, but perhaps Mr Greenfield took it less in good humour," Mr Adams said.

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"He felt physically sick when he was shown a picture of the injury. This is a man who is not predisposed towards violence and he was immediately remorseful."

Greenfield, of Milnrow View, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm.

Judge Graham Reeds QC told him there "seems to be no real reason as to why you threw him down towards the floor "and said he caused a "permanently disfiguring injury."

Greenfield received six months, suspended for 18 months. A 7pm-7am curfew was imposed for eight weeks to "keep him out of the pub when they reopen."

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