Man Took Chunk out Of Teen's Face at Festival

A Buckfast-fuelled yob left a teenager scarred for life after sinking his teeth into his face during an unprovoked attack at T in the Park.

Published 6th Oct 2015

A Buckfast-fuelled yob left a teenager scarred for life after sinking his teeth into his face during an unprovoked attack at T in the Park.

Plasterer Ross Porter left the 17-year-old stranger needing surgery after biting his face and finger during the random attack at the music festival.

Porter, 30, was remanded in custody and warned he would be jailed today when he admitted carrying out the horror attack at Strathallan Estate in Perthshire.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that the victim had to spent the weekend in the plastic surgery unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary instead of camping at the festival.

Porter's solicitor Stephen Morrison told the court that Porter was shocked by his own behaviour and had penned a letter of apology to pass on to his victim.

Fiscal depute Gavin Letford said: "It was the first day of the festival. The complainer is 17 years of age. He attended with the intention of camping until the Sunday.

"He met a group of friends who were all 17 at 3pm on Friday and they set up tents and sat chatting. The accused appeared at 4pm. He was not known to them.

"The accused was drinking Buckfast, appeared drunk, and was not making much sense. He pulled up a chair and sat next to them uninvited. They requested him to leave. He refused and became annoyed.

"The accused grabbed him and bit him on the face, causing them to fall to the ground. The accused landed on top. He felt the accused continue to bite him.

"The accused bit hard and would not let go. The complainer screamed out in agony and punched him to make him release his grip.

"The accused eventually let go, but immediately thereafter he bit his finger and held on with his teeth for a few seconds before letting go."

The court was told Porter got up and left with blood on his face and when he was traced by police a short time later he had dried blood on his face and clothing.

"The victim had a facial injury the size of a 50p coin and it was gushing with blood. He was tearful and in a state of shock. He was taken to hospital.

"He was transferred to the plastic surgery unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary from 10 to 13 July and continues to attend. There was complete tissue loss in the area of the wound.

"He has been left with a scar and a lump on his face. He will be left with a permanent scar and will require surgery to remove the lump. His finger also required surgery."

Porter, from Dunfermline, admitted attacking the teenager at T in the Park on 10 July and biting him on the face and finger to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment.

Mr Morrison said: "He recognises this can only be dealt with by a custodial sentence. He has written a letter for the attention of the complainer. It appears to be heartfelt and genuine.

"He was horrified by what he has done to this young man."

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said he would defer sentence for reports and to consider whether to make Porter subject to further supervision after his release from jail.