A MAN was left with flap of skin hanging from his cheek after a drinker sank his teeth into him during a pub brawl.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Andrew Dugdale will be permanently scarred after the attack by drunken Lithuanian Regimantas Simanauskas at the Walkabout bar in Burnley in August.

Simanauskas, 26, who had drunk between 30 and 40 shots of whisky, also tried to gouge out Mr Dugdale's eye and left the victim fearing he may have contracted hepatitis B or another disease.

The defendant, of Vernon Street, Nelson, also bit a police officer after being arrested. He admitted wounding and common assault and was jailed for 13 months.

Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, told the court Simanauskas and two Lithuanian friends went out drinking.

At first Mr Dugdale was talking to the trio but the defendant became ill and started vomiting in the bar. He was asked to leave but became aggressive, and staff, helped by customers, tried to usher him out.

A melee started in the doorway and Mr Dugdale, trying to assist staff, grappled with the defendant. Simanauskas punched the victim and then bit him hard on the cheek.

Miss Dacre said Mr Dugdale could not get escape at first as he feared more damage would be caused to his cheek if he pulled away and he was also pinned in a corner. When he did finally get away, he was bleeding and a flap of skin was hanging down.

His two friends then got involved and a scuffle developed.

Police arrived and Simanauskas was arrested. Initially he complied but he then dropped to the floor and PC Neil Gregson realised he had been bitten above the knee.

Miss Dacre said Mr Dugdale had to have a hepatitis B injection, was scratched snd bruised and will be permanently scarred. The two friends had admitted affray and had been dealt with by the lower court. Simanauskas had no similar previous convictions.

Joe Boyd, defending, said Simanauskas was clearly shocked by his own behaviour, which he deeply regretted.Mr Dugdale had simply been trying to assist.

Mr Boyd said: "He just went out drinking. The amounts that are mentioned that they had to drink are quite extraordinary. He was completely out of his mind. That's not something which is normal for this young man."