Such attacks are not as uncommon as you might think, and there has been a series of such incidents in English towns over the past few years. The most recent, in Manchester, involving a man described as a ‘Suarez lookalike’, although the CCTV picture does not support this fanciful claim.

Nor is this an exclusively English problem. American news contains almost as many ear-bites as soundbites, while in Australia an 80-year-old retired priest bit off the ear of another elderly clergyman during a fight over a parking bay.Nor is this an exclusively English problem. American news contains almost as many ear-bites as soundbites, while in Australia an 80-year-old retired priest bit off the ear of another elderly clergyman during a fight over a parking bay.

And even celebrities occasionally fall victim to auditory assault…

Paddy Doherty

The My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and Celebrity Big Brother star required surgery to sew his ear back on after his cousin, 21-year-old Johnny Joyce, bit it during a fight outside PC World that was described by the judge, Martin Steiger QC, as ‘revolting’. (The fight, that is, not the shop.)

In the event, his lughole was the least of his concerns, as this picture shows.

Shane MacGowan

‘CANNIBALISM AT CLASH GIG’ was the headline in the NME report on a 1976 performance by the London punks. The shell-like was owned by a young Shane O’Hooligan (as he styled himself at the time) and the perpetrator of the outrage was Jane Crockford, who would later taste pop success as a member of The Mo-dettes, whose music was slightly kinder to ears.

Clive Mantle

Clive is best known as Dr Barrett in Casualty, but also plays Greatjon Umber in Game of Thrones. Which is ironic, as the recent series involved a spectacular example of the ear-chewing art. Mantle’s own experience was less glamorous, however, occurring as it did at a Travelodge in Newcastle, where he was involved in a punch-up with two men after asking them to be quiet.

In the ensuing fight he reacted to the bite in fine Thrones style, by inserting his thumb into his opponent’s eye socket until he released his grip. The men were acquitted of attacking the actor, after a trial in which the ear-bite was described as self-defence.

Sean Fitzpatrick

South African Johan Le Roux bit Fitzpatrick’s ear during a rugby match in 1994. After receiving his suspension, Le Roux riposted: ‘For an 18-month suspension, I feel I probably should have torn it off.’

Alex Guerrero

Albuquerque Isotopes catcher Miguel Olivo was suspended after biting off a portion of Minor League team-mate Guerrero’s ear, after an argument during a pitching change. Guerrero was rushed to hospital for plastic surgery.

Evander Holyfield

The most famous ear-chomp of all time occurred during the heavyweight champion’s second fight with Mike Tyson, which took place in Las Vegas in 1997.

Years later Tyson made amends in this touching Foot Locker commercial. Which was nice.