Ear-biting Angus Royal Marine ordered to pay victim £1,000

An “exemplary” Angus Royal Marine who bit a bouncer’s ear through to the cartilage in a nightclub bust-up has been ordered to pay his victim £1,000.

Inebriated Thomas Colclough waded into the violent melee at De Vito’s nightclub in Arbroath out of “an alcohol-fuelled sense of loyalty” during an incident that has already resulted in fines for two of his service colleagues from the 45 Commando base on the outskirts of the Angus town.

A day before he was due to leave for jungle training in Belize with the elite unit, 27-year-old Colclough returned to the dock of Forfar Sheriff Court to be sentenced for his part in last October’s fight, which marred a friend’s farewell night of drinking and karaoke.

Colclough, of Derby, admitted assaulting and permanently disfiguring the door steward by repeatedly punching him and biting his ear.

Depute fiscal Jill Drummond told the court: “In essence, the whole incident occurred when his friends were removed from the premises.”

She said the victim’s left ear would be permanently scarred as a result of the attack.

Defence solicitor Nick Markowski said: “My client was waiting outside De Vito’s and there was a stramash in the foyer of the nightclub.

“When the fight between his friends and the bouncers ensued at the door, he became involved out of an alcohol-fuelled sense of loyalty.

“He has an exemplary record in the service and a specialist role in the unit.

“He has very little recollection of the incident and is extremely apologetic.

“He is remorseful, embarrassed and ashamed over his own conduct and for the effect on the service he represents.

“There will be some discipline imposed by the marines,” the solicitor added.

Sheriff Jillian Martin-brown imposed a £1,000 compensation order on Colclough.

A colleague of the accused who admitted exposing himself at the nightclub in what a sheriff said was a “potentially incendiary incident” was earlier fined £750, with a third marine fined £500 for assault.