A MAN bit part of a concert-goer’s ear off during a savage attack at an indie-rock gig in Bournemouth, a court heard.

Daniel Sykes chewed a quarter of the man’s ear off in the unprovoked attack before walking away with a blood-covered face.

Prosecuting, Roderick Belin, told Bournemouth Crown Court on June 26 the victim was attending a Razorlight concert at the O2 Academy in Boscombe with his wife and friends.

The defendant also attended the gig on April 28 last year along with his wife and was stood in front of the victim.

The venue was loud with music and at around 9.45pm the victim noticed Sykes turning and leaning towards him around three times, as if to speak to him.

As the victim put his head towards Sykes to hear him speak, the defendant savagely bit the man’s ear for “no apparent reason”.

Daniel Sykes (Image: Newsquest)

One witness said they expected Sykes to run away but instead he stood and stared at the group before making his way to the exit.

He was stopped by a security guard who asked why he had blood on his face and nose, to which Sykes made an excuse of being hit by someone’s drink.

Police arrived and arrested Sykes, while the victim was taken to Royal Bournemouth Hospital A&E.

The venue manager later returned and found the victim’s ear on the dance floor, in hope of reattachment.

However, after returning to Swindon the man was told a quarter of his ear was missing and that it could not be reattached.

In a victim impact statement, the man, who is a football coach, said he needed 16 stitches and was referred to Oxford for plastic surgery before being referred again to an ear specialist in London.

He is now on an 18-month waiting list for a four-hour operation which will use part of his rib to repair his ear cartilage.

“When returning to work I was called a ‘thug’ by a colleague and that is the impression I give off and that is not how I am as a person,” he said.

He added the incident was difficult to explain to his two children and when seeing his nephews for the first time, they cried and were afraid at the sight of him.

“They [his children] do not like that this man is wandering the streets.

“Which is something I also struggle with and never feel like I can visit Bournemouth again.”

Mitigating, Aleks Lloyd, said the offence was very short-lived and ‘quite odd’.

He added the defendant is the primary carer for his daughter and an immediate custodial sentence would have a massive impact on her.

Mr Recorder Dan Pawson-Pounds listed the defendant’s numerous mental health illnesses including ADHD which he was recently diagnosed with.

Sykes reportedly became “annoyed by the noise of the audience” and became impulsive due to his ADHD.

Sykes, 46 and of Hillbrow Close in Fareham, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm and was sentenced to nine months, suspended for 18 months.

He must also complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay £500 in compensation.