A MAN who bit deeply into the nose of his opponent in a late night brawl was yesterday jailed for 18 months.

Mark Wilson, 22, left the victim with blood-stained nasal tissue hanging from his face, following the fight outside a nightclub in Consett, County Durham, on a Saturday, last November.

Durham Crown Court heard that the incident, in John Street, followed an earlier confrontation in the nearby Trades club.

Although in full view of town security cameras, police were unable to obtain useful footage due to the close proximity of onlookers.

Amanda Rippon, prosecuting, said the victim was drinking in town centre pubs with his girlfriend and sister earlier in the evening.

On entering the Trades club, a scuffle took place involving a friend, who was knocked to the floor.

As he tried to help him to his feet, he was also punched, and so left the premises to avoid further problems.

But, outside, he was approached by Wilson, who believed he had been involved in the earlier altercation.

Punches were thrown and, in the ensuing fight, the pair rolled around on the ground, exchanging blows.

Miss Rippon said the victim's sister tried to intervene to separate them, but she was held back by other onlookers, although she did kick out in Wilson's direction.

Witnesses described seeing Wilson astride the other man suddenly lunge forward and bite his nose, before fleeing the scene.

Miss Rippon said the victim was taken by ambulance to hospital where the injuries were stitched.

She added that the laceration was to such a depth that he is likely to be permanently scarred.

Wilson was arrested at 5am at his home, from where clothing was recovered carrying the victim's bloodstains.

David Callan, mitigating, said Wilson admitted wounding with intent, on the basis it was self-defence "gone too far". Wilson claimed he was bitten himself and kicked in the back during the incident.

Mr Callan added that Wilson, a roofer of Pixley Dell, Delves Lane, Consett, has no previous record for violence.

Jailing him, Judge Esmond Faulks described the injuries as "hideous" and said Wilson acted "in excess of what can be regarded as acceptable selfdefence".