A MAN who had his ear bitten off after smashing a plastic glass on his friend’s head over an argument about paternity has been put under curfew.

Jamie Withers approached Thomas Still at Casbah’s at about 2am on November 29 last year, and started asking him about a baby who 21-year-old Still had recently discovered was not his.

When Still made it clear he didn’t want to talk about it, Withers slammed his glass twice against the back of his head, which to witnesses ‘seemed to explode’, a court heard.

Witnesses at the time said it looked as though the pair were having a cuddle, as Still sank his teeth into the right ear of Withers, tearing a chunk away.

Pauline Lambert, prosecuting at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, said Still, of Ashford Road, had already been given a nine-month suspended jail term for biting Withers.

“Mr Still said he had asked him about an issue about the family, and Mr Still did not want to talk about it,” she said.

“For no obvious reason, he gets hit to the back of his head, and noticed he had blood running down his back. His clothes were soaked in blood.

“The issue is he has been in a relationship with somebody and had just discovered that the baby he thought was his, wasn’t.

“He says it was an unprovoked attack.

“He did not seek any medical treatment but had a1cm cut to the back of the head.

Mr Withers grabbed him in such a way that he had his head next to his, like a bear hug.

“He managed to get away and has bitten his ear.

“One witness was standing in the smoking area of Casbah’s at the time and knew both men.

“He could see the two of them, and Mr Withers began talking about personal issues.

“At first, Mr Still goes along with it, but wants to stop discussing it.

“Mr Withers continued with the same topic and Mr Still asked him to stop.

“He says it looked as though they were having a cuddle. The glass did not smash, and Mr Withers was able to hit him twice to the head. His head seemed to explode, and there was blood everywhere.

“The pair fell into a scrum with each other, and soon there were too many people around them to see what was going on.”

Esther Bisgrove, defending 33-year-old Withers, said: “The two defendants were not jointly charged. Mr Withers was the victim of Mr Still, and Mr Still is the victim of Mr Withers.

“There are a number of references which have been prepared in relation to this case.”

Withers, of Ruskin Avenue, was given a community order for three months, with requirements to remain under curfew between the hours of 9pm and 7am, and was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.