South Yorkshire man bit off neighbour's earlobe in argument over noise

A South Yorkshire man who bit off a neighbour's earlobe during a fight over loud music "escaped prison by the skin of his teeth," Sheffield Crown Court heard.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Josh Ceaser and Harry Hesmondhalgh confronted their victim in the doorway of his Rotherham home, on November 4, 2017, after he played music into the early hours.

The three fell to the floor and punches were thrown, before Hesmondhalgh said: "Slit his throat - do it," before biting off the man's earlobe.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Prosecutor Brian Outhwaite said it couldn't be sewn back on, and their 29-year-old victim had to have a prosthetic fitted. He also received a bloody nose, a cut to his eye, and bruising.

Sheffield Crown Court.Sheffield Crown Court.
Sheffield Crown Court.

In a statement, he said he was left "permanently disfigured," suffered flashbacks and now took medication for depression.

"He is very conscious about the ear and now wears a hat to hide the injury," Mr Outhwaite said.

"Tensions had risen over a number of weeks about noise and Ceaser's neighbour had retaliated by playing loud music."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Keith Allen, mitigating, said Hesmondhalgh, who has mental health problems, became involved in "misguided support of his friend," and the earlobe was ripped off "recklessly" during the struggle.

He urged the judge to suspend any sentence as he has no previous convictions and nearly three years have passed.

Dermot Hughes said Ceaser's wife suffers from an obsessive compulsive disorder which caused the noise problems.

"He accepts this is an appalling piece of behaviour. Should he lose his liberty he will lose his employment. He is wholly unlikely to offend again."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hesmondhalgh, 47, of Stevenson Drive, and Ceaser, 30, of Wordsworth Drive, both of Herringthorpe, Rotherham, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, and Ceaser also admitted affray.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC, said their remorse was "wafer-thin" because their guilty pleas were late, and they both deserved prison. He described it as a "disgraceful episode" but conceded "there was fault on both sides."

Hesmondhalgh was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for 24 months, with a six-month curfew from 7pm to 7am, and 30 rehabilitation days. Ceaser received 12 months, suspended for two years, with a four-month curfew and 250 hours of unpaid work.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

Thank you to all who support local journalism with a digital or print subscription to The Star. The events of 2020 mean trusted, local journalism is more reliant than ever on your support. We couldn't do it without you. Subscribe here so we can keep campaigning on your behalf. Stay safe.