A WORCESTER man was jailed for biting his friend's cheek during a savage, drunken attack in a city centre pub.

Karl Horton will go to prison for 30 weeks after he sank his teeth into Jason May's face in the Five Ways pub, Angel Place, Worcester, on Friday, January 26.

Horton, aged 28, of Derby Road, was also banned from every pub in the city centre for 18 months after he admitted assault at Worcester Magistrates Court on Friday.

The court heard there had been banter between the two men and Mr May had admitted being "intimate" with Horton's girlfriend the night before.

Lesley Ashton, prosecuting, said: "Without warning Mr Horton stood up, grabbed him around the chest and bit into his left cheek. He tried to get him to release him from the bite by grabbing both of his ears and twisting them. He also tried to punch him but he maintained a tight grip."

Mr May said in a statement that Horton grabbed him in a bear hug and then bit his left cheek for around 45 seconds, refusing to let go and leaving a visible mark.

Mr May said: "He bit down as hard as he could and was trying to grind his teeth."

The attack happened while Horton was on a suspended sentence for another violent attack. He was also in breach of a community order, issued on March 2 last year.

The attack was witnessed by door staff at the pub, and Horton was arrested outside, giving a false name and date of birth to police.

Susie Duncan, defending, said unemployed Horton had only just admitted to his family that was a heroin addict. She said: "He hadn't realised he had bitten quite so hard and he accepts it went too far."

District Judge Bruce Morgan said: "The concept of biting someone's face and holding on for 40 to 45 seconds is an act of savagery beyond most people's comprehension. The pain must have been excruciating and you were also grinding your teeth into this person's cheek."