Victim speaks out about assault that severed his ear

Julian Meyers, of Hillside Road, contacted the Observer to give his reaction to the end of the trial in January.

He told of the day he was at home watching television on October 20, 2007 when Joseph Elt and his "two mates" came to call.

The 49-year-old was beaten up and left with a smashed cheekbone, broken collar bone, severed right ear, multiple lacerations to his head and arms, and a broken bone in his left hand.

He needed more than 40 stitches for the damage across his face.

Mr Meyers remembers he had settled down in his bedroom to watch the rugby World cup final when he heard Elt and other men who had come into his house.

He said that Elt "stormed in" with Michael Graven, 46, of Bodle Crescent, and Matthew Marchant, 31, of Jacobs Acre, who have already been sentenced for their part in the crime.

Mr Meyers said: "Jo Elt just came in. He didn't say anything. I was watching television in my bedroom.

"Basically I heard him say '“ Let's do it. Next thing I knew he came in the bedroom and battered me. He had obviously been started up elsewhere... it was just a question of who could he beat up."