Court hears man 'panicked' and bit off part of victim's EAR during town centre scuffle
Last updated 12th May 2025
A 27-year-old man who bit off part of another man's EAR during a scuffle in the centre of Peebles has avoided a jail sentence.
It was claimed Peter Morey had been threatened by the complainer in the weeks leading up to the attack - and "panicked" when he thought his victim may be carrying a weapon.
Selkirk Sheriff Court heard the dad had been drowning his sorrows outside the Central Bar in Peebles following an issue with a personal relationship when the pair got into an argument.
India McLean, prosecuting, said Morey repeatedly struck the man on the head and body before lunging towards him and biting him - removing a section of his ear, which was later recovered from the road.
The court heard the incident in the Eastgate area was captured on a mobile phone.
Morey - who gave an address in Edinburgh - pled guilty to a charge of assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement and sentence was deferred until today (Monday) for background reports.
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Sheriff Ian Anderson said a prison sentence would have been "inevitable" had Morey been sentenced at the time of the incident in September 2023.
But, as he is in full-time employment and has stayed out of trouble for two years, he instead imposed a one-year Community Payback Order, as a direct alternative to custody, during which time Morey must complete 225 hours of unpaid work.
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