Teenager bit off man's lip (From Barry And District News)

Teenager bit off man's lip

A BARBARIC Barry teenager was jailed for six years for biting off the lip of a reveller in a late-night attack.

Stevie Edwards, 17, was named and shamed by a judge who lifted an order preventing him being identified because of his age.

The judge said the brutal assault - which left the victim needing reconstructive surgery - was one of the worst he had dealt with in his career.

Reveller Jason Tippins was attacked as he walked home from a friend's engagement party.

Prosecutor Anthony Vines said: "Mr Tippins noticed a group of youths including Edwards ahead of him - one of them threw a bottle at a hotel.

"Mr Tippins said words to the effect of "haven't you got anything better to do?"

"Edwards approached him and grabbed Mr Tippins around the neck - there was some pushing and shoving and they went to the ground."

Cardiff Crown Court heard Edwards ended up on top of Mr Tippins and bit him on the lower lip.

Mr Vines said: "Edwards bit into the lip and Mr Tippins recalls the biting getting harder.

"Eventually Mr Tippins felt him bite right through the lip and the area went numb."

Edwards ran away from the scene of the attack, in Barry, South Wales and Mr Tippins was taken to hospital.

Doctors were unable to reattach the piece of severed lip and Mr Tippins needed 25 stitches to close the wound.

He later had reconstructive surgery to rebuild his missing lip and the court heard he needs further operations to repair the damage.

Edwards, of Caradoc Avenue, Cadoxton, Barry, was found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Judge Stephen Hopkins QC told him: "The nature of your attack and its consequences were appalling.