A MAN who bit two teenage boys on the face as he attacked them in a park has been jailed for three years.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that a 15-year-old boy needed plastic surgery after part of his nose was bitten off by Terence Taylor in Lilford Park, Leigh.

The court was told that the boy would be scarred for life as a result of his injuries.

Taylor, aged 21, of Hope Carr Lane, had been convicted at an earlier hearing of causing him grievous bodily harm with intent and assaulting his 16-year-old friend, whom he also bit.

David Pojur, prosecuting, told the court that Taylor went to the park when his girlfriend rang to say her sister was being bullied there.

He walked up to a 16-year-old boy and asked if he knew where his girlfriend's sister was.

He grabbed the boy and headbutted him.

The boy hit back to defend himself and Taylor grabbed him again and bit his cheek and nose.

The boy struck back but Taylor took hold of his head, pushed it down and kneed him in the face.

Taylor then walked away saying, 'This is a Tess Taylor special," said Mr Pojur.

Taylor then turned to a 15-year-old boy who tried to intervene.

Taylor punched him in the side of the head. He then bit him on the nose causing a ragged laceration to tip and a cut to the septum.

The boy needed plastic surgery because of his injuries, having lost part of his nose, and has been left permanently scarred, said Mr Pojur. His other victim had bruising and swelling.

Taylor was arrested 12 days later, on March 11, 2004.

He told police he had been set on by three or four youths in the park.

He said he fought free and ran off but denied biting anyone.

Stephen Wild, defending, said Taylor now accepted that he had been responsible for causing the injuries.

He has no previous convictions and had been in a heightened emotional state at the time of the offences.

He accepted he would receive a jail sentence and intends to use the time to gain more qualifications, said Mr Wild.

Judge Gerald Clifton said: "It was quite unjustified use of violence, using your teeth as a weapon."