Rickmansworth man bit off a man's ear at The Steelyard

Luca Howse, 20, from Queens Drive in Rickmansworth, was captured on CCTV repeatedly punching a reveller at The Steel Yard smoking area in London last March.

The victim fell to the ground from the attack, and Howse then jumped on the victim and bit the man's ear, ripping off a large chunk off.

A security guard at the venue underneath Cannon Street railway station then intervened and separated the pair.

The victim was rushed to hospital, but doctors were unable to re-attach the helix of his ear and half of his earlobe.

Police described the injuries as “life changing”, saying the victim was financially, emotionally, physically and psychologically damaged.

Howse was later arrested after turning himself in to Hertfordshire Constabulary.

An outside shot of the The Steelyard in London (Photo: Street View)

City of London Police Constable Yusef Meerza said: “I am pleased that this violent and unpredictable criminal has received a custodial sentence, following what was a senseless attack on an innocent member of the public which has left the victim with permanent injuries.

“Thanks to the security procedures in place at The Steelyard, including ID scanning on entry and the use of CCTV, Howse was quickly identified and arrested, preventing him from causing harm to anyone else.

“I would like to send my thoughts to the victim and his family. No one deserves to be attacked, let alone bitten, and I hope the perpetrator fully understands the consequences of his actions, whilst serving time in prison.”

Howse was sentenced to three years after pleading guilty, and will be eligible for release on licence after 18 months.

The court heard Howse sent a letter of remorse to the victim, apologising for what he did.

A judge also heard from a psychiatric report which showed Howse is suffering from PTSD, although he had no previous convictions or markers for violence, and that there was no premeditation in the attack.