A FEUDING man bit his neighbour’s nose and held on for five minutes over a row about loud music.

Thomas Baker was enraged by the noise coming from Thomas Johnson's room where they both lived at Kendal Court in Newhaven.

He made threats to kill his neighbour as he banged on the door.

Then when Mr Johnson opened the door, Baker bit him and “latched on” to the victim’s face.

Mr Johnson’s nose had to be repaired in hospital with special glue.

At Hove Crown Court Baker admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent.

The 41-year-old was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Richard Hearnden, prosecuting, said the incident happened 5pm on May 19 last year at Kendal Court.

He said: “The pair had known each other for about three years and they have been feuding over the playing of loud music.

“The defendant banged on Mr Johnson’s door. He was making threats and shouting, saying he would kill him.

“After a few minutes Mr Johnson opened the door and a fight ensued.

“Mr Johnson was trying to restrain the defendant, but he kept coming towards him, trying to punch him.

“During a scuffle, the defendant bit Mr Johnson on the nose and latched on for what seemed like five minutes. It only came to an end when the defendant relaxed his grip and went back to his room.”

Mr Johnson suffered a cut to his nose which had to be glued.

Baker, formerly from Manchester, has previous convictions for begging, causing criminal damage, and possession of class A drugs.

Doctors said he has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and is psychotic.

Ross Talbott, defending, said his client has had mental health treatment and was ill at the time of the incident.

He said his client, formerly of Kendal Court, has made progress with psychiatrists.

Baker’s reaction at Kendal Court may have been as a result of “ongoing bullying”, Mr Talbott said.

Judge Martin Huseyin said Baker presents a risk to the public, but accepted the defendant was mentally ill at the time of the attack.

The judge said: “The restoration of the defendant’s mental health must take precedence over punishment, given his limited culpability.

“I’m not saying there was bullying, but if there was, it was an extreme reaction to it. He does not have a history of violence but his extreme reaction shows his behaviour poses a serious risk of harm.”

Baker will be detained at Hellingly Hospital in Sussex under the Mental Health Act, with restrictions in place for his treatment.