Aberdeen man jailed after he bit off neighbour’s nose during dog noise dispute
John Gerrard's victim had to have surgery that required a skin graft following the vicious attack.
A man has been jailed after he bit off the tip of his neighbour’s nose during an argument over noisy dogs.
John Gerrard, 24, and his neighbour confronted each other in the street and the verbal altercation turned violent.
As the pair scuffled, Gerrard grabbed the man’s face and bit off the tip of his nose, before goading him that he’s taken a “chunk” out of his face.
The man required surgery and a skin graft to repair his nose.
Neighbours got into ‘scuffle’
Fiscal depute Rebecca Thompson told Aberdeen Sheriff Court that at around 9.15am on July 7 2024, Gerrard’s neighbour was standing on the balcony of his Oldtown Place address.
As he was standing there, his dogs were barking from within his property.
Gerrard exited from the veranda of his property on the ground floor and began shouting up at the neighbour about the noise his dogs were making.
This continued for a few moments before the man decided to go downstairs to confront Gerrard about the situation.
The man crossed the road and met Gerrard on the street.
An argument began between the pair and a scuffle ensued, with them coming together in close proximity to each other.
Gerrard grabbed his neighbour and bit him on the nose, resulting in the tip of his nose being removed.
The man retreated back towards his property while Gerrard shouted: “I took a chunk out of your face.”
In the dock, Gerrard pleaded guilty to one count of assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
Prison sentence for nose biter
Defence solicitor Alex Burn told the court that his client accepted that the two men got into a dispute and that during a “struggle” the tip of the complainer’s nose was bitten.
“Thankfully, it was able to be reattached,” the solicitor said.
“Mr Gerrard suffers from ADHD,” Mr Burn said. “My client is only 24 and the complainer is a grown man and came across to engage with him and probably should have had a bit more sense.
“But my client accepts what has been libelled.”
Sheriff Andrew Miller told Gerrard: “This is a concerning assault arising from an argument about dogs.
“I have taken into account of what the report tells me that could have contributed to your behaviour during this incident and could contribute to your behaviour in future.
“Given all these factors, I take the view that a sentence of imprisonment is the only appropriate disposal in your case.”
Sheriff Miller sentenced Gerrard, of Oldtown Place, Aberdeen, to two years in prison.
[Source: Press and Journal]
