Man bit into cheek of girlfriend's dad

A VIOLENT confrontation escalated when a man angrily bit into the cheek of his girlfriend's father and threatened him with a broken bottle, Grimsby Crown Court heard.

Daniel Kirk, 25, of Garibaldi House, Albion Street, Grimsby, admitted affray on September 9.

James Byatt, prosecuting, said Kirk became involved in a confrontation with his ex-girlfriend, Charlotte Smith, and her father, Geoffrey.

Kirk knocked Mr Smith's glasses off, there was a violent struggle and both men threw punches.

Kirk pulled 63-year-old Mr Smith's head towards him and bit him on the cheek, biting into the flesh and causing "unreal" pain.

Kirk broke a bottle on a paving slab and lunged with it towards Mr Smith, who was "frightened to death" and feared he would be "stabbed to death".

Mr Smith had been a prison warder during the Strangeways riot in Manchester and later said it was the "scariest experience he had ever faced".

Simon Hirst, mitigating, said it was a disgraceful incident but there had been no further problems.

Kirk was in well-paid work. The relationship with mother-of-two Charlotte Smith was at an end.

Kirk was given a one-year suspended prison sentence and a one-year restraining order banning him from contacting the Smiths or going to their home in Ladysmith Road, Grimsby.

He was ordered to pay £400 compensation and a Government-imposed £100 victims' surcharge.