AN Arsenal fan has been cleared of wounding a Tottenham Hotspur supporter who lost part of his ear in a pub brawl.

Thomas Hart and Glenn Hammett were involved in an angry confrontation when football banter turned sour in the Bridge House pub in Potters Bar, St Albans Crown Court heard.

Mr Hammett, 27, who was wearing a Spurs shirt, was playing pool when he had words with Hart’s younger brother Dan, who was also in the Mutton Lane pub with three friends.

Maurice Aston, prosecuting, said: “The defendant and his brother support Arsenal. There was nothing nasty at first – just a bit of banter.”

But at some point, Dan Hart and Mr Hammett got involved in a verbal altercation and the defendant then stepped in and grabbed him by the wrists.

Mr Aston told the court the victim told Thomas Hart “let go and I will walk away”, but the defendant allegedly pulled him towards him and bit his right ear lobe.

“He was bitten so hard a piece of flesh came away,” Mr Aston said.

“It severed part of the ear and he screamed with pain saying: ‘You have bitten my ear off’.

“The defendant finished his beer and walked away.”

Mr Hammett was taken to hospital, but the piece that had been bitten off could not be re-attached.

He received stitches and has been left permanently disfigured.

When questioned after the incident, on July 17 last year, Thomas Hart told police he was defending himself.

The 24-year-old, of Oakmere Avenue, Potters Bar, was cleared by a jury last Wednesday of wounding with intent and a lesser, alternative charge of wounding.