A WEDDING guest has been cleared of biting off the earlobe of a fellow reveller following a drunken brawl.

Colin Jones was acquitted of causing Darran Goulding grievous bodily harm with intent, and of an alternative charge of wounding, following a trial at Swansea Crown Court.

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Mr Jones, of Bethel Road in Llansamlet, broke down in tears in the dock when the verdict was delivered.

The court heard how trouble flared at the end of a wedding reception at the Oxwich Bay Hotel in the early hours of August 22 last year.

As people waited for a mini bus to take them home at the end of the party, a series of scuffles broke out between some of the guests, the court was told.

It was the prosecution's contention that Mr Jones first tried to bite Mr Goulding on the nose as the two men grappled, then sunk his teeth into his right ear lobe.

The defence maintained that the 31-year-old animal expert — who is known as the Welsh Dog Whisperer for his canine work — acted in self-defence after Mr Goulding grabbed him around the neck during one of the scuffles.

The missing part of Mr Goulding's ear could not be found despite a search of the area by sniffer dogs, scenes of crime experts, paramedics, guests at the reception and even the bride. He later needed 20 stitches in the wound.

During the trail the court heard details of a number of character and personal references which had been submitted on behalf of the accused. Many praised him for his work with difficult animals, and others for being a dedicated father-of-three and husband, and a "model employee".

One letter described how the allegations he faced were "completely alien to his character", while another praised his work with an older people's walking group.

The jury took three hours and 58 minutes to return its not guilty verdicts.

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