A THUG who bit off part of a fireman's ear as he tackled a blazing car has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Lee Atkinson ripped an inch-long chunk out of fire officer Chris Williams' ear as he attended a 999 call.

He then spat it out onto a patch of grass and fled the scene on a friend's moped. Recorder Roger Thomas said the attack on a public servant "beggars belief".

Appearing at Teesside Crown Court today 23-year-old Atkinson, of Osborne Terrace, Ferryhill, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The court heard that a scuffle broke out when Mr Williams went to rip off the dashboard of a Ford Fiesta to make it safe after it had caught fire near the Eden Arms Hotel, Rushyford, County Durham, on January 10.

Prosecutor Shaun Dodds said: "The defendant bent his head down, taking Mr Williams' right ear in his mouth and then bit and twisted his head.

"Mr Williams felt intense pain as the defendant pulled part of his ear off."

Atkinson, who had been a passenger in the car, jumped off the injured firefighter, spat the ear part into a patch of grass and fled the scene.

Jamie Hill, for the defence, admitted Atkinson had caused a disturbance, but disputed he had started the attack.

In sentencing Atkinson to three-and-a-half years in prison, Mr Thomas said: "It beggars belief, quite frankly, that anybody should try and interfere with these people trying to carry out their duty in the proper way."

Speaking after the court case Mr Williams, whose injury kept him off work for six weeks, said he was pleased the matter is now closed.

He added: "I am disgusted that a member of the fire service carrying out their duties in serving and protecting the public should be assaulted in this manner.

"I believe that the sentence of three-and-a-half years reflects the severity of the violent assault on myself."

Station Officer David Turnbull added: "I would like to believe that this was an isolated incident, but attacks and assaults on firefighters are becoming more frequent."

Mr Williams is recovering well from the injury he sustained and has returned to full operational duty.