THE BIG NIPPER
Thug bites off 4cm chunk of bouncer’s ear in row over entry to amusement park
A VICIOUS thug who bit off part of a security guard’s ear after being ejected from an amusement park is facing jail.
A court was told Gary McMahon, 26, turned on Stephen Docherty after he was refused admission because he was drunk.
He was barging into members of the security staff and suddenly bit Stephen, 53, on the ear without warning.
When the security guard attended hospital, it was found a 4cm chunk of his left ear was missing.
McMahon felt he had some “leeway” at the M&D’s park in Motherwell because his uncle is the manager, his defence lawyer told Hamilton Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Douglas Brown bailed warehouse worker McMahon for reports to be prepared but warned him to expect a jail term. McMahon, of Viewpark, Lanarkshire, admitted assault to severe injury.
Calum Forsyth, prosecuting, said: “Mr Docherty was working in an amusement area of M&D’s at the time of the incident.
“The accused and a group of his friends were going between the amusement area and a beer garden and it was noted he was becoming increasingly intoxicated.
“Security personnel made a decision not to readmit him. The staff were holding him back and a huddle formed. Without warning, he bit Mr Docherty on the ear.
“He was pulled away by other staff and his friends and left the scene in a taxi.”
Luke O’Curry, defending, said: “Mr McMahon is the nephew of the manager and he wrongly felt that because of this family connection he had more leeway than other members of the public.
“He felt aggrieved at being asked to leave and he realises what he is now facing because of his actions.”
McMahon’s not guilty plea to a further charge that he acted in a threatening or abusive manner during the October 2015 incident was accepted.
Sheriff Brown told him: “This is a very serious matter and a period of imprisonment is virtually inevitable.
“This was an assault on an employee at his place of work and that is always an aggravating factor.”