Latest news with #PaulConnor


BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
Gosforth bar brawl sees two jailed after man's ear bitten off
Two men have been jailed over a late-night brawl which saw one of them tear the other's ear off with his was captured by CCTV footage inside the Kellbank Hotel and Restaurant, Gosforth, Cumbria, at about midnight on 8 July Tim Evans told Carlisle Crown Court that a drunk Christopher Hewer was "being the bar-room bore" and a fight involving several people ensued after he approached stranger Paul Connor, who initially tried to move away from his "incessant chat".The pair came to blows and Connor used both hands to grab Hewer's head, leaning towards him and biting his left ear completely off before spitting it on to the ground. A stunned female bystander collected the severed ear in a serviette, the court heard, as customers and the only member of staff attempted to stop the 33, of Fenton Close, Speke, Liverpool, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and also affray. He received a four-and-a-half year jail term from Judge Michael Fanning, who accepted he was provoked by Hewer and had not gone looking for trouble. "But I have to deal with you for what you have done," said the judge. "You have used a weapon to inflict this injury. Use of the teeth is a weapon."Hewer, 44, of West View Road in Distington, near Workington, admitted affray and was handed an 18-month prison sentence. "You provoked Mr Connor to the position he found himself in," said Judge Fanning. "You came out of this very much the loser with a very serious injury." The court heard Hewer's partner Antonia Holliday, 36, of Hinnings Road, Distington, also took part in the violence that footage shown during the hearing showed her punching out at another customer, and being punched. Connor kicked Holliday and was punched by her, before the physical altercation with was given a 15-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, with the judge noting she was the sole carer of two children. She must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and an alcohol judge considered background information on all three, hearing they were sorry for their a tree surgeon and dad-of-two, had acted out of character as "something snapped" when he was provoked, said his barrister Kim engineer Hewer, who wore a head bandage during the sentencing hearing, underwent a medical procedure earlier this week with a view to a prosthetic ear being available to him. "Even after two years he is feeling the effects," said Marion Weir, mitigating. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.


Sunday World
26-05-2025
- Sunday World
Pensioner dies after being hit by bus in Co Louth
The incident between the pedestrian and a bus took place in Dunleer at about 12:20pm on Lower Main Street A pedestrian aged in her 80s has died following a road collision in Co Louth this afternoon. The incident between the pedestrian and a bus took place in Dunleer at about 12:20pm on Lower Main Street The woman was transferred by ambulance to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where she was later pronounced dead. Four other women lost their lives in separate road crashes over the weekend in counties Meath, Wexford, Clare and Tyrone. The road has been closed for a technical examination of the scene to be conducted and diversions are in place. Investigating Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users who were at Lower Main Street, Dunleer, between 12:10pm and 12:30pm on Monday, 26th May and may have camera footage (including dash-cam) are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041 9874200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station. Photo: Paul Connor News in 90 Seconds - May 26th 2025