A SERVING prisoner appeared at Worcester Crown Court in handcuffs accused of biting part of another inmate’s ear off.

Andrew Aston “lost patience” with Michael Dillon after claiming he pushed into a dinner queue at Long Lartin jail, near Evesham, it was alleged.

He invited the victim into a shower block to fight, then bit off a piece of his left ear, said Paul Whitfield, prosecuting.

Judge Michael Thomas QC told the jury they must not be prejudiced against Aston because he was in handcuffs.

The judge had also agreed for Dillon to give his evidence in handcuffs after consulting those responsible for security arrangements at the court.

Aston, aged 38, denies wounding Dillon with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

The defendant did not deny being involved in an altercation with the victim on October 20, 2010, and had made threats before the biting incident, said Mr Whitfield.

He said: “The degree of force used clearly indicated an intent to do serious harm.”

Dillon told the jury he had been in Long Lartin since August 2008 and claimed Aston began verbally abusing other prisoners on the day he got injured.

He said Aston acted “like Al Capone” by gesticulating to come and fight.

Aston lunged at him, he claimed, before biting his ear.

Dillon said Aston posed in front of a security camera and stuck out his tongue with the missing piece of ear still on it.

The trial continues.