A Hairdresser who bit off part of the ear of another woman in a fight at a cricket club charity function was today jailed for 20 months.
Kate Temple and her sister became involved in a scuffle after the other woman threw a drink over her, as all were drinking late into the night in a marquee erected at Dawdon Cricket Club’s Welfare Park ground in Seaham, County Durham, on July 20.
Durham Crown Court heard that “by chance” both attended the charity hog roast night in separate groups. The clash was said to be the culmination of “festering resentment” on the part of the victim, who accused Temple of being a “home-wrecker”, in front of assembled company at the function.
Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, told the court: “The background is that she believed Kate Temple had been having some sort of affair or relationship with her partner.
“She is said to have found a number of messages on her mobile phone earlier in the year. Whether or not there was any form of relationship, the Crown doesn’t know, but the Crown can say that the complainant, in this case, thought something had been going on.”
Mr. Dryden said a barmaid intervened in the confrontation and noticed heavy bleeding from the neck area of the victim, who attended the hospital later in the morning.
She eventually had to undergo reconstructive surgery but has been left permanently disfigured with ongoing physical and mental pain arising from the injury.
Temple handed herself in at a police station two days later, and while admitting being involved in the scuffle, denied biting the other woman’s ear.
Both she and her older sister were charged with wounding with intent, and, on legal advice, refused to allow the prosecution to take dental impressions.
But, following several delays in proceedings, Temple, of St John’s Terrace, Seaham, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and the prosecution dropped the case against her sister.
Bob Spragg, for Temple, who is of previous good character, handed in a number of testimonials on behalf of the popular hairdresser.
He told the court that in the face of the derogatory remarks by the other woman she was about to leave when the drink was thrown and the confrontation took place.
“There was a struggle and she was bitten. She accepts it must have been her who bit back and certainly didn’t intend to cause serious injury.”
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Mr. Spragg said she believes the other woman pulled away, causing the injury to be more serious. Jailing her, Judge Simon Hickey, said although there was some provocation, and her actions were not pre-meditated, he could not, “draw back from an immediate prison sentence”, given the “significant injuries” suffered.
But as he had jailed her, he made no compensation order against Temple.
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