Marine bit off part of doorman’s ear at bar

Marcus Cooper, 20, was handed a community punishment yesterday despite a court hearing how the victim has been left permanently disfigured as a result of the sickening attack.

Cooper bit clean through Tomasz Molkowski’s earlobe as he tried to escort the Marine out of the Tiger Tiger bar in Leeds city centre after management saw him behaving in a “thoroughly obnoxious manner”.

Leeds Crown Court heard Cooper had been walking around the club causing trouble and staring at people and was “hopelessly drunk”.

The incident happened at about 10pm on March 1 this year after Cooper and his group of friends became abusive when they were asked to leave by a manager.

Emma Whitfield, prosecuting, said Mr Molkowski, who was working on his first ever shift at the club, felt a sharp pain to his left ear as Cooper bit into it and pulled his head away.

Other doormen came to help and managed to pull Cooper away. The piece of earlobe was found on some steps. Surgeons tried to reattach it but were unable to do so.

The court heard Mr Molkowski feels embarrassed and self-conscious about his injuries but stated after the attack that he did not want to see Cooper sent to prison.

Cooper, of Poole, Dorset, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The court heard Cooper received a police reprimand four years ago after he assaulted two young women.

Alasdair Campbell, mitigating, urged Recorder Christopher Storey QC not to impose an immediate custodial sentence as it would end his military career.

He said Cooper had not set out to deliberately hurt the doorman and that the attack was a spontaneous reaction.

Letters of reference from high- ranking officers, including a colonel, were handed to the court 
describing Cooper in glowing terms.

The barrister said that Cooper would have to face disciplinary procedures in the military and would not be allowed promotion to a higher rank for at least two years.

Mr Campbell said: “The taxpayer has paid a lot of money in training him. In my submission it would be a loss to the taxpayer.”

The court heard Cooper joined the Marines when he was 18 and had been due to go on a tour of Afghanistan until it was cancelled owing to budget cuts.

Mr Campbell said there was the prospect of him being sent there in the near future and was living in military accommodation with his wife.

Cooper was given a 51-week sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to pay £2,000 to Mr Molkowski.

Recorder Storey told Cooper: “This offence took place when the victim was carrying out his lawful employment as a doorman and when you were behaving in what was a thoroughly obnoxious manner.

“All of this arises from the fact that you were lacking in self-control because you were hopelessly drunk.

He added: “I am not going to send you to prison today.

“I am able to take what I regard as a completely exceptional course.”