A DRUNKEN thug who savagely bit off part of a taxi driver's ear just months after biting another man has been given a 13-year sentence.

Dane Hodkinson, of Westleigh Lane, Leigh, carried out a "persistent and vicious attack" on Christopher Harrison in the early hours of July 13 this year.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that at about 5am Mr Harrison went to the McDonalds restaurant at the Linkway in St Helens to collect a fare.

CCTV footage played to the judge showed 26-year-old Hodkinson getting into the front passenger seat where he twice punched the driver after he asked if he had the fare, which he did not.

Both men then got out and punches were exchanged.

Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, the Recorder of Liverpool spoke of how the victim has been left physically and emotionally scarred and has had to give up his livelihood.

He said Hodkinson's ‘animal behaviour’ had caused his victim ‘excruciating pain’ and it must have been a most terrifying experience.

"He had to sell his cab and feels not surprisingly unable ever to return to work as a taxi driver,” he added.

“As well as depression and high blood pressure he now suffers from post traumatic stress disorder.

"You launched a frenzied attack with your fists and with your feet. You tried to bite his ear off, you bit his elbow and fingers, kicked and stamped on him as he lay on the ground.

"You took his keys off him and threw them at him and such was your contempt for him that you laughed.

Tom Watson, prosecuting, said that after being arrested by police, Hodkinson, who had drunk 20 pints followed by Jagerbombs at a wedding in St Helens, continued to be aggressive.

And stated that he smashed his head on the inside of the police van and tried to say they had assaulted him but the incident was caught on CCTV.

When he sobered up he said he remembered being in a ‘scuffle’.

The court heard that his previous convictions include threatening behaviour and affray.

In February he was convicted of possessing an offensive weapon involving using a piece of concrete in a fight with a man armed with a knife.

He bit that man but was not prosecuted for that and received a nine-month suspended prison sentence.

Robert Haygarth, defending, said that after being shown the CCTV footage Hodkinson said that he was ashamed and wished to apologise.

Hodkinson had pleaded guilty to wounding with intent.