A THUG who bit off part of his ex-lover's husband's ear in a vicious pub attack, has been jailed for four-and -a -half years.

Burnley Crown Court had been told how Robert Large ended up with part of the cartilage missing and had to have stitches after Scott Dickson, 22, sank his teeth into him.

The defendant told police he had had a sexual relationship with Mr Large's wife, Stacey, just weeks before but claimed he had not known at the time that she was married.

Dickson, of Westgate, Burnley, had denied wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and an alternative, lesser allegation of wounding, on December 22, 2012. He was last month convicted by a jury of the wounding with intent offence and was locked up by Recorder Philip Curran.

Prosecutor Julian Taylor had told the court: "The defendant had a brief sexual liaison with the complainant's wife some time before this alleged incident. Robert Large got to hear about this, there was eventually a conversation to resolve the issue about 10 days before and all appeared to have calmed down."

Mr Taylor said on December 21, Mr Large argued with his wife Stacey and the victim went to the Rose and Crown pub, in Manchester Road, just after midnight.

A confrontation took place between the defendant and Mr Large, who was thrown to the floor. He was pinned down and the defendant knelt on his chest with both knees. Dickson then moved his head to the left side of Mr Large's head and began biting into his left ear, gritting his teeth and tugging at the ear. Mr Taylor continued :" Somebody, fortunately, dragged the defendant away.

Mr Taylor said police had gone to the pub and Mr Large told an officer: "Me and my wife were having a bit of trouble. About three weeks ago, she slept with a lad called Scott Dickson." Mr Large said Dickson said something to him, he went to smack him, before he knew it there were about eight lads on him and somebody was 'biting his ear off.' He said Dickson was responsible.