A DRUNKEN thug bit a man's ear outside Worcester McDonald's in a bloody attack.

Jack Lowe attacked the man outside the restaurant in Worcester city centre. Lowe, 24, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm following the attack on July 30 last year, appearing before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday.

Magistrates were shown photos of the victim's bloody injuries before they announced their sentence. Richard Weatherhill, the chairman of the bench, said the defendant's solicitor had told them he was 'shocked' when he saw the injuries he had inflicted.

He said: "This was a largely unprovoked attack. You were in drink. It was a very nasty assault in terms of the bite which caused a nasty injury - and a punch to the back of the head. You have a history of similar offences."

However, they also accepted he had made progress with the help of the probation service and, even though the offence crossed the custody threshold, they were prepared to suspend it. Magistrates imposed an 18 week prison sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered him to pay £250 compensation to his victim. Lowe was also ordered to pay £185 in court costs.

Meanwhile, noise abatement proceedings against Oliver Dakers and Ella Pearson of Worboys Road, Worcester, over a barking dog were adjourned at the same court on Friday. Both face four charges of failing to comply with an abatement notice which required them to 'prevent their dogs barking excessively'. The four breaches are alleged to have occurred on August 12, August 14, August 17 and August 18. The prosecution is being pursued by Worcester City Council under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Speaking at court, the clerk explained that the case had been adjourned until April 6 at 2pm because the defendants have asked for recordings of the noise.

In other cases heard on Friday, Bradley Dack was banned for a minimum of 12 months under the totting up procedure after he was caught on variable speed cameras travelling speeding at 68mph in a 60mph on the M5 between junctions 6 (Worcester) and 5 (Droitwich) on June 28 last year.

The 27-year-old did not attend the hearing and with a total of 14 points on his licence was disqualified in his absence.

Shellbey Ingram, 27, of Holly Mount Road, Tolladine, Worcester was also a totter after receiving 12 points on her licence, the last six for driving without insurance in Kidderminster on June 1 last year. However, magistrates found exceptional hardship which means she will not be banned from driving.

This was found because she would lose her job as a care co-ordinator and due to the impact on other staff and because she took her disabled mother to medical appointments and shopping.