Belfast Telegraph

Monday 17 March 2014

Father bit off love rival's finger

Lee Wilkinson was jailed after he admitted biting off part of another man's finger at a children's nativity play

A father who bit off part of a love rival's finger at a children's nativity play has been sentenced to 11 months in jail.

Lee Wilkinson, 40, fought with Michael Dent at Harton Primary School, South Shields, in December 2011. During the tussle he bit off the tip of Mr Dent's left little finger.


Bridie Smurtwaite, prosecuting, said: "They both attended the school, with Mr Dent arriving in the queue behind the defendant. When they saw each other, words were exchanged and Mr Dent suggested they go outside to have a fight.


Passing sentence Judge Simon Hickey said he was unable to suspend sentence because of the nature of the offence. He said: "I can't suspend the sentence, it must be immediate, although I am very conscious that it will impact on your life and your children. That is the least I can impose given my duty and what the public must view as a very serious offence."

But he did reduce the amount of time Wilkinson will serve in prison due to his pleas, his character references and his work ethic.

Tom Moran, defending, said that Wilkinson had retrained as an offshore worker after he had been attacked working as a taxi driver.

"He wanted to be able to support his wife and three young children and he was working away providing for his family on one such occasion when his wife started a relationship with Mr Dent," he said. "The relationship became serious and the defendant separated from his wife. That gave rise to a large amount of animosity and hostility."

He said Wilkinson did not know that Mr Dent was going to be at the school and just wanted to enjoy the play like the other parents who attended. Wilkinson admitted wounding and a public order offence.

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