A THUG who left a man scarred for life when he bit off part of his lip was last night starting a three-and-a-halfyear prison sentence.

Sean Kearney was branded a coward by a scathing judge, who told him: “What you did has affected your victim’s life quite profoundly.”

Kearney and Kalem Lodge attacked George Corner and his friends as they were smoking cigarettes outside a club in Hartlepool town centre.

Initially, there had been some banter between the groups about Mr Corner’s dyed ginger and green hair, but the joviality turned to violence.

Kearney, 27, approached Mr Corner – who was with friends celebrating a birthday – and screamed at him: “Do you want to have a f***ing go?”

A friend tried to calm the tension, but he was punched to the ground, and when Mr Corner tried to grab Kearney, they fell to the ground.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Kearney landed on top of Mr Corner, 30, and sunk his teeth into his lower lip until he blacked out.

Adrian Dent, prosecuting, said Lodge, 20, punched and tried to kick another man, and swung at a third, while Kearney also lashed out.

When police arrived, they found Kearney slumped on the ground, drunk and covered in blood, said Mr Dent.

He was arrested when police realised he was not the victim and, when he was searched, police found a knuckle-duster in his trouser pocket.

Mr Dent told Judge Peter Bowers that Mr Corner was taken to hospital, but refused treatment because he has a phobia of hospitals.

The victim returned several days later when the pain became too much, and the wound was repaired, but he is permanently scarred.

The court heard how Mr Corner’s former partner would not let him see their children for three months because he looked so frightening.

He has also suffered depression and has been moved from his job as a team leader to a forklift truck driver at the loss of £80 a week.

In a statement, Mr Corner said he has had nightmares, is reluctant to leave the house and has never been back to the town centre.

Kearney, of Burbank Street, Hartlepool, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing an offensive weapon.

Lodge, of St Abbs Walk, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to affray during the September 11 incident, and was jailed for a year.

His barrister, Robin Denny, said: “This matter turned out vastly more serious than he could have anticipated, and he was involved in a limited way.”

John Gillette, for Kearney, said: “He is disgusted at himself and he is disgusted at the injury he caused and all he can do is apologise for that.”