Taxi Driver Online

September 20, 2006 Wednesday

HEADLINE: Nose bite man must pay £6,000

DATELINE: Falmouth Packet

A Falmouth taxi passenger was left permanently disfigured when the end of his nose was bitten off by a drunken man who tried to jump the queue.

Describing Ian McElwee's behaviour as "savage and disgraceful" at Truro Crown Court on Friday, Judge Francis Gilbert QC ordered him to pay £6,000 compensation to his victim, Kingsley Grubb.

McElwee, a boat fitter, of Alderwood Parc, Penryn, was also given a 51-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was banned from entering the centre of Falmouth every night for six months from 7pm to 7am.

Prosecuting McElwee, who earlier had pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful wounding, Timothy Hills said that Mr Grubb and his partner were already in the taxi on The Moor, Falmouth, when the defendant jumped into the front seat.

Mr Grubb protested, got out and opened the front door and there was a clash of heads. McElwee then bit off the end of his nose, which a constable retrieved and put into an evidence bag but which surgeons were unable to re-attach.

Defending McElwee, a man of previous good character, Lee Bremridge stressed that it had not been a premeditated offence. There had been no threats made, he had reacted when he feared for his safety.

Commented Judge Gilbert: "It was an extremely drunken and violent reaction...."

Sentencing McElwee, the Judge pointed out that Mr Grubb had lost £4,000 in wages because he had been unable to work for some time.
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