A VIOLENT thug who bit a man’s ear because he thought he had been “bad-mouthing”

him has been given an eight-month suspended jail sentence.

Gary Charnock, aged 26, of Stanworth Avenue, Bolton, attacked 42-year-old Francis Clayton after confronting him at his home in Slaidburn Avenue, Breightmet, at 9.30pm on February 28 last year.

When Mr Clayton opened the door, Charnock grabbed him by the throat and pushed him to the floor before raining down blows on his head and face.

During the attack, Charnock bit the older man’s head and left ear, leaving a one-anda- half-inch cut.

He also punched Mr Clayton’s dog and threw it out of the house.

The attack only ended when Charnock’s girlfriend shouted at him to stop.

Mr Clayton needed five stitches in his ear after the attack.

Charnock pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding but denied wounding with intent — a charge he was cleared of by a jury at Bolton Crown Court last month.

He was yesterday given an eight-month jail sentence at Manchester Crown Court, suspended for 12 months, and a threemonth curfew from 8pm to 7am.

Det Con Stuart Round, of Bolton CID, said: “It is no exaggeration to say that Charnock behaved like an out-of-control animal— savagely punching this man in the face and then biting his head and ear.

“It is only by chance, not design, that the man did not suffer more serious injuries.”