A MAN bit another’s nose so hard it was left dripping with blood and needed to be glued back together.

Sam Perry’s victim was left with permanent scarring to the right side of his nose and suffered nightmares after the attack, Southampton Crown Court heard.

Prosecuting, Matthew Lawson said the victim then had to undergo numerous blood tests through fears he may have caught an infection such as HIV.

Mr Lawson said Perry, of Tennyson Road, Southampton was walking past Calmore Community Centre, in Totton, around lunchtime on April 20, 2016 when he became involved in a dispute between him and another man.

He added 24-year-old Perry claimed he was acting in self-defence but had gone too far.

Perry’s victim had to be taken to hospital and have the wound on his nose cleaned and glued together.

The court heard the victim had nightmares about being infected with a disease as a result of the attack.

Mr Lawson said the man was also self conscious about going out because of the scarring on his nose.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said: “No one should go around biting people – it is something an animal does.”

The court heard that Perry had 13 previous convictions for 22 offences but there had not been one involving violence since 2011.

In mitigation, Miss Jane Rowley said: “This is a young man who has turned his life around.

“He had turned his back on drugs, turned his back on drink and now has employment.

“He is a young man with a future on a good income.”

The court heard Perry also had development and attention deficit disorder.

Judge Nicholas Rowland said Perry was a young man with an “appalling” record but had been receiving support from a child mental health team since 2006.

He sentenced him to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and told him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,000 in compensation to his victim.

“You seem to be turning your life around. I hope this is true - if not you will go back into custody,” Judge Rowland said.

“Something went on between you and the victim. You clearly overreacted and used your teeth as a weapon.”