A violent attacker who bit the top off a takeaway worker's ear during a dispute over a free meal has been handed a significant prison sentence.
Brutal assault over refused free food
Wayne Kilty, 43, of Stafford Street in Sunderland, entered a Chinese eatery on October 10 and demanded a meal without payment. When a staff member refused his request and told him to leave the premises, Kilty's response escalated rapidly.
The court heard that Kilty first threw a plastic visor at the worker. After being told to leave a second time, the situation turned violently physical. Kilty pulled the victim outside the shop doorway where he launched a sustained attack.
Court hears details of sustained violence
Newcastle Crown Court was told the worker was repeatedly punched, suffering a broken nose. In a particularly vicious act, Kilty then bit the victim's ear, severing the top portion of it.
Recorder Mark Giuliani, presiding over the sentencing, dismissed Kilty's claim that poor eyesight led him to believe he was about to be attacked. "If that was the case, the simple solution was to turn around and walk out or run out. You did none of those," the judge stated.
Instead, Kilty, who was under the influence of substances at the time, subjected the worker to a brutal assault. The victim required plastic surgery and faces ongoing medical treatment for his ear injury.
Sentencing and impact on the victim
Kilty, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent. He was sentenced to 64 months (over five years) in prison, with an extended licence period of 30 months.
Recorder Giuliani emphasised that Kilty poses a "high risk to the public". The court also heard a victim impact statement revealing the worker had never experienced such violence before and was left anxious about potential repercussions for reporting the crime to the police.
In mitigation, defence barrister Claire Anderson said Kilty was "deeply ashamed" and outlined personal struggles, including losing sight in one eye from a previous ammonia attack and suffering from cataracts in the other. She cited bereavement and trauma in his life, leading to substance abuse as a coping mechanism.
The sentence serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences of violent crime, particularly against those working in customer-facing roles.
