A removal man who disfigured a colleague for life by biting his nose off has been jailed for three years.

David Phelps lunged at Robbie Walker and sank his teeth into his nose after turning up at his house drunk last September.

He had gone to Mr Walker's house in Winchcombe Road, Eastbourne, after hearing rumours he had been sacked and to ask his friend to intervene with their boss at a removals firm in the town.

Phelps, 34, of Iden Street, Eastbourne, attacked when Mr Walker asked him to leave because he was tired and his two-year-old son was asleep upstairs.

Phelps claimed he was defending himself because a scuffle had broken out but a jury at Hove Crown Court took just 30 minutes to find him guilty of causing grievous bodily harm following a two-day trial earlier this month.

Mr Walker has undergone reconstructive surgery but is likely to be scarred for life.

Phelps admitted causing the horrific injuries but denied it was deliberate and was cleared of a more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The court heard he had a violent history with previous convictions including two public order offences, two assaults on police officers and one for causing actually bodily harm in 2003.

On that occasion he had bitten the ear of another friend after stabbing him with a toasting fork.

Sentencing him at Hove Crown Court yesterday, Recorder Anthony Chinn said: "There is a significant risk of you causing serious harm to the public in the future because of your history of violence, which has some striking similarities with the current matter.

"There was biting, they were friends and drink was involved on both occasions.

"No weapon was used but the use of teeth is similar to a weapon."

He said Phelps must serve at least half his three-year sentence and would be under license for a further 18 months after his release.

Speaking outside court, Mr Walker said: "I am pleased with the verdict and the fact that someone who is capable of doing this is off the streets.

"But at the same time I am sad because Dave Phelps was my friend until this happened and I didn't want to see him inside."

Phelps said in evidence: "Rob was a good pal and I have lost him as a friend now."