A MAN told a court yesterday he was forced to bite off another man's ear during a savage street attack.

Neil French, 21, said that Douglas McLoughlin's young son handed him a knife as the pair were brawling and said: "Stab the bastard".

French is accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to the father-of three, who had chased a man he thought was trying to steal his car.

Mr McLoughlin told Newcastle Crown Court he scuffled with the thief, who was armed with a scaffolding pole, then picked up a hammer and gave chase.

But on his way back to his home, in Priestley Avenue, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, he became involved in a fight with Neil French.

Mr French told the court: "I was petrified for my life. I was trying to grab his hands, but he would not stop, so I grabbed him in a bear hug and we both fell down. I thought the only way I could stop him was by hurting him, so I put my teeth on to his ear.

"He stabbed the knife into my leg, I was in pain and shocked, and I knew he wasn't going to stop. My reaction was to grit my teeth and he pulled his head away."

Mr McLoughlin was forced to scour the ground in a bid to retrieve the ear, but was told it was too late to sew it back on when he arrived at hospital.

Mr French, of Clare Street, Benwell, Newcastle, denies the charges against him.

The trial continues.