Student ear bite victim refuses to judge his attacker

by Oliver Farrimond

A STUDENT who had his ear bitten off in a nightclub brawl says he has forgiven his attacker.

Disfigured Steve Meloni, 21, lost a chunk of his ear outside The Hive nightclub in Edinburgh after trying to break up a fight.

His attacker, 19-year-old Rory Clark, admitted the assault at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, adding that he was too drunk to remember the incident.

Torn

Mr Meloni, who is studying languages, tourism and marketing at Edinburgh Napier University, now faces a lengthy spell of reconstructive surgery to repair his torn earlobe.

He said: “It was a really, really foolish thing to do but I’ve not heard his side of things.

“I’m obviously very annoyed with him, but people can’t control their alcohol – it’s a common problem.

“However it’s not for me to judge him in the end, and if he’s pleaded guilty, then that’s a good thing.”