Chunk Of Banker's Ear Bitten Off During Boat Race Pub Crawl

Ali Nariman

An investment banker enjoying an all-day pub crawl during the Boat Race had the top of his ear bitten off during a confrontation in a busy bar, a court heard yesterday.

Privately-educated Charles Linard, 30, - who attended £29,000 a year Bedford School - denies being drunk and aggressive after eleven hours of drinking.

Another customer at Putney's Be at One bar, 35 year-old Ali Nariman of Chertsey Road, Twickenham has pleaded not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent, on April 11, last year.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard experienced sailor Mr. Linard began drinking at 11am on the day of the annual Oxford and Cambridge University race, consuming a bloody mary and champagne.

The Durham University graduate continued drinking pints of cider, plus shots and cocktails with a group of friends at various pubs until they ended up in the packed Putney High Street bar.

Six-foot three Mr. Linard told the jury he leaned in to hear what Nariman was saying after the defendant motioned to him.

"My ear was towards his mouth so I could hear what he was saying. The next thing I remember was the gentleman lunging forward.

"I felt a pain in my ear and as I instinctively pushed him away I felt a tugging of my ear and swung my right hand towards him in self-defence.

"There was blood and I felt pain."

Charles Linard

Mr. Linard, who says he had never seen the man before, pursued him towards the exit, but he got away.

"I told one of the bouncers I would go to A and E tomorrow to which he said: 'I don't think you understand how much of your ear is missing.'

"I had to have some surgery to cut the cartilage back and have the wound cleaned up."

The jury viewed CCTV from the bar, which the defence say shows Mr. Linard pushing and grabbing Nariman, who was wearing a distinctive trilby hat, earlier in the evening.

During the ear-bite incident the CCTV shows Mr. Linard putting his hand around the back of Nariman's neck as he leaned in and then raising his right hand.

"Are you raising a fist?" asked Mr. Nicholas Maggs, defending. "You were extremely drunk and falling into people in the bar and invaded the personal space of the man in the hat.

"Do you remember telling telling him to: 'F*** off' and do you remember pushing him?" asked the lawyer.

"Do you remember saying: 'Get out of the way brownie' to him?

"You took hold of the back of his neck and you leaned your head forward and butted it against his.

'Do you remember kicking him in the shin and kneeing him in the groin?

"I suggest you were extremely rude, aggressive and violent to the man in the hat before your ear was bitten," concluded Mr. Maggs.

Mr. Linard denied assaulting or swearing at and insulting the defendant.

CCTV also captured him "staggering" out of the pub, but he denied this was sue to intoxication. "It was shock more than anything else."

Trial continues………….