Sentence on Conon Bridge man deferred as Inverness court hears how victim was disfigured after ear-bite attack in Alness car park
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A Ross-shire man had part of his ear bitten off during a struggle with an Alness labourer in a local shop car park.
But although surgeons re-attached the piece of flesh which had been quickly recovered, Inverness Sheriff Court was told yesterday that it failed to graft properly and had to be removed.
Sandon Urquhart of Sellar Place, Conon Bridge admitted assaulting Ian Docherty to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement in Firhill on the night of June 9, 2020.
Fiscal depute Martina Eastwood told Sheriff Sara Matheson that 23-year-old Urquhart had approached Mr Docherty as he sat in his car.
"He acted aggressively and a struggle began and both were rolling on the ground. They got up and were leaning on a fence with their heads close together.
"Urquhart then bit the top of Mr Docherty's ear lobe off and spat it out over the fence. The severed part was recovered and re-attached but the graft failed and it had to be removed."
When arrested, Urquhart told police: "I was defending myself trying to get him off me."
Defence solicitor Clare Russell reserved her comments until January 13 next year after Sheriff Matheson deferred sentence for a background report and a restriction of liberty order assessment.
Urquhart's bail was continued.
