A man bit another man's ear - leaving it permanently disfigured - during a fight over a game of pool at a Bolton town centre pub.

Avnesh Gola went to the Derby Arms on Derby Street where he encountered the other customer.

The two enjoyed a game of pool but matters rapidly deteriorated, Bolton Crown Court heard.

After a game, Gola refused to buy a drink and had his pants pulled down by the other man.

Following this, Gola left with his girlfriend and went towards a taxi.

But the other man came out of the pub and punched him, and a fight then broke out.

During the fight, the other man bit Gola’s finger.

But Gola, 27, responded by biting the other man’s ear, taking a chunk out of it.

He had to be taken to hospital and will be left with a permanent disfigurement.

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Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, read a victim impact statement from the man who was attacked.

It said: “When I am around family and friends I am self-conscious about my ear.

“I have never been back to the pub, I used to be a regular.

“When I shave or shower I always see my ear.”

Gola appeared in court to be sentenced after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm during the incident, which happened in January 2022.

He pleaded guilty on the basis that he had been struck first, but that his self-defence was excessive and this was not challenged by prosecutors.

Oliver Jarvis, defending, said he had shown remorse and had not reoffended since.

He added: “He is a self-employed painter and decorator.

“He has not worked since proceedings began due to stress.”

District Judge Richard Clews said: “Many people might think and quite frankly they would be right that any case involving the biting of someone on the ear and causes permanent disfigurement should be met with a custodial sentence.

“I must take account of the particular circumstances of the offending.

“I hope you understand as everybody ought to that two wrongs do not make a right.”

He suspended a sentence of nine months for 18 months.

He ordered Gola, of Mancroft Avenue, Great Lever, to complete an alcohol abstinence requirement for 90 days, complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days, complete 150 hours of unpaid work and to pay £1,000 of compensation to the victim.