CLUBBER James Gibson ripped off part of the ear of a man after getting involved in an argument about a woman.

He is alleged to have attacked Mark Traynor at Swindon's Eros nightclub.

Mr Traynor was left with serious injuries a third of his left ear was severed and retrieved from the floor of the club. The injury was treated by surgeons.

He also needed stitches to his bottom lip, lost two teeth, chipped another and had another pushed into his root canal. He suffered bruising to his eyes, head and shoulders and spent two weeks at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Gibson appeared at Swindon Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm at the Shaw Ridge club. The court heard he denies intending to cause the injuries.

Mr Traynor had asked staff at Eros to keep Gibson away from him. He claimed Gibson, 34, of Newark Close, Fresh-brook, had made a pass at his girlfriend. But the court heard violence flared heard violence flared when Mr Traynor received a tap on the shoulder.

He said: "I turned round and that's where James was. He just said 'have you got a problem with me?', I said 'no, not as long as you keep away from me James'."

Mr Traynor, 37, of Pinehurst, told the court that Gibson suddenly threw a punch at his friend, which Mr Traynor blocked.

"The next thing I remember is getting off the floor and walking towards the doorman," said Mr Traynor. "Then I just collapsed. I was in a mess. I collapsed, that's the last thing I remember. I woke up in hospital."

Mr Traynor told the court he didn't know about the injury to his ear until it had been sewn together in hospital.

He said he had a false tooth put in and was due to have dental surgery costing £2,000.

Under cross examination Mr Traynor denied saying he wanted to hit Gibson when he saw him at the club.

He also denied headbutting Gibson on the nose, gripping him around his head and punching him several times in the face.

Jayne Bartlett, Mr Traynor's long-term girlfriend, described how "flirty" Mr Gibson had been before the incident.

She said her boyfriend was hurt when, later on, someone had suggested there was something going on between her and Mr Gibson.

She said they had tried to avoid Gibson after the suggestion, going to Eros on Friday because Gibson normally went on Saturdays.

Mr Traynor's Martyn Moor said Gibson threw a punch at him and Mr Traynor blocked it.

He said Gibson then headbutted Mr Traynor, denying it was Traynor who headbutted Gibson.

Two witnesses, Julie Littrall and Eros doorman Peter Drury, said they had seen Gibson with blood smeared on his face following the incident in the club on June 30.

The case continues