A MAN had part of his ear bitten off in an attack by a group of people leaving a nightclub.

The 20-year-old man, who was making his way home from Spennymoor's Cube club, was the innocent victim of the assault, in June last year, Durham Crown Court heard.

The court heard that four young men from Sunderland, including a serving soldier and two former servicemen, were involved in the incident.

They were leaving the area in a Mercedes car, when they pulled over and got out to way-lay their victim

William Lowrie, of Firth Square, Grant Evans, and James Shickle, both of Pennycross Square, all aged 20, and a 17-year-old youth, also from Sunderland, each admitted charges of affray yesterday.

The court heard that the 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was initially charged with wounding with intent, as it was alleged he carried out the ear biting. He denied the charge.

But John Gillette, prosecuting, told the court yesterday that it was unclear who was responsible for the bite, which severed part of the victim's outer ear.

He said the Crown would not be pursuing the wounding charge.

Sentence was adjourned pending the preparation of reports.

The defendants were granted bail, to return for sentence next month, although the court was told that Shickle is in the care of a military correction centre at Army barracks at Colchester, in Essex, for going absent without leave.