A WOMAN was given part of her boyfriend's ear in a pint glass after a fight in a nightclub, a jury heard.

Swindon Crown Court heard that painter and decorator James Gibson bit off Mark Traynor's earlobe after a dispute over Mr Traynor's girlfriend, Jane Bartlett.

Staff at Eros in Shaw Ridge packed ice around the lobe and gave it to Miss Bartlett. Surgeons at PMH were eventually able to sew it back on.

Miss Bartlett yesterday told the court how the two men had been friends until Mr Traynor, 37, from Toothill, found out that Gibson, 34, had made an unsuccessful pass at her last summer.

She said she, Mr Traynor, and their friends had gone to Eros on Friday, June 29 last year, instead of their normal Saturday night.

She told the jury this was to avoid seeing Gibson, who also usually went on Saturdays.

But Gibson was at the club that night and, despite being warned by a bouncer to stay away from Mr Traynor, later approached him looking "very angry."

"(He was saying) words to the effect of 'what's your problem?'" said Miss Bartlett, who then left the scene to find a bouncer. When she returned, she saw her boyfriend being taken into an office with his face covered in blood.

Martin Moor, a friend of Mr Traynor and Miss Bartlett, told the court: "James grabbed Mark and then there were a couple of punches.

"He grabbed Mark round the neck and held him down I think he punched him and then they went down on to the floor."

Mr Moor admitted he did not see how Mr Traynor's earlobe became severed because he also went to find a bouncer as the two men grappled with each other.

The court also heard from former special constable Jacqueline Hunt, who saw a man lying on the floor being kicked four times by another man.

She said she dragged the attacker away, and noticed his mouth was covered in blood.

Gibson, of Newark Close, Freshbrook, denies one charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The case continues.