A VALLEYS man bit off the finger tip off a former bouncer following a scuffle, a court heard yesterday.

Barry Llewelyn, 37, of Citadel Close, Tredegar, is on trial at Newport Crown Court accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Kevin Pearce.

Prosector John Ryan told the court the initial dispute involved the defendant and his ex-partner, Christopher Callaghan, 25.

On August 16 last year, Mr Pearce returned to Mr Callaghan's mother's house in The Crescent, Tredegar, following a wedding along with his partner Janet Williams and their 14-year-old son.

Mr Callaghan's friend Gavin Davies came through the door, saying the ex-partners were fighting in the street.

The court heard Llewelyn did not have a shirt on and after being briefly restrained by Mr Callaghan, he ran away.

Around five to ten minutes later a loud smash was heard.

Mr Pearce and two members of the Callaghan family went out to investigate, and he told the court the defendant seemed drunk and "out of control".

The court heard the front bay window of the house was broken and the three men tried to restrain Llewelyn.

Mr Pearce said he took over as he had been a doorman in Tredegar.

He went to let go of Llewelyn when his brother arrived as he thought he was going to be attacked.

It was at that moment he said he felt an "excruciating" pain in his finger and Llewelyn was "biting for all he was worth."

Mr Pearce lost the tip of the middle finger on his left hand.

Dr Catherine Adams, who has more than ten years experience assessing bite mark injuries said she has examined "numerous" finger biting cases, but none had resulted in the amputation of the finger tip.

She compared it to "biting completely through an uncooked chicken drumstick."

Proceeding.