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Gang leader bit off inmate's ear

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THE ringleader of a teenage gang who committed robberies across Hull has bitten off part of a man's ear, leaving him scarred for life.

Aiden Mercer, 19, was locked up for eight years for his part in a crime spree using weapons.

While on remand in Hull Prison awaiting sentence for those offences, Mercer had a fight with a fellow inmate over a dispute about tobacco.

Mercer claimed the victim assaulted him first and he then bit off part of his ear in self-defence.

Despite attempts by surgeons to repair the ear, the operations were unsuccessful and the man has been left scarred for life.

The attack happened on New Year's Day and Mercer has now pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to causing grievous bodily harm.

He was originally charged with a more serious offence of wounding with intent, but the Crown Prosecution Service accepted his plea after the victim failed to come to court to give evidence.

Judge Simon Jack sentenced Mercer to an additional six months in a young offenders' institute for his latest offence, on top of his previous sentence.

The judge said he needed to send a message out that criminals who commit offences in prison will get longer sentences.

Judge Jack told Mercer: "I have to sentence you for an offence of wounding committed while you were on remand awaiting sentence for offences for which you have now been sentenced to eight years for.

"You have a very bad record for offences of violence or involving the use of threats of violence, despite the fact you are only 19 years of age.

"You have entered a basis of plea in regard to this saying the complainant started it and you were attacked and you used excessive force in self-defence.

"Your barrister has urged me in the circumstances I should pass a concurrent sentence, which should therefore have no affect at all upon your release date. I cannot do that. It has to be a sentence that is meaningful."

Mercer previously pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery and a burglary.

His accomplices in those offences, Joseph Wilson, 19, and Macauley Smith, 15, were sentenced to four years and three years four months respectively after admitting their part in the gang's raids around homes in Boulevard, west Hull.

The gang terrorised families by bursting into houses armed with scissors, table legs and a knife.

Mercer and Smith entered one man's home in West Park Grove on November 14, brandishing wooden table legs, which they used to threaten him and his brother.

On December 11, Mercer, Wilson and Smith forced their way inside a house in Boulevard after knocking on the door.

Mercer pointed a pair of scissors in the man's face, while his girlfriend sobbed helplessly.

He and Wilson punched and kicked the man in his face, while Smith stuffed two games consoles into a bag.

On December 18, Mercer and Smith broke into a house in Heathfield Square, stealing five children's computer tablets, each worth £270, which had been bought as Christmas presents.

Passing sentence on Mercer previously, Recorder Duncan Smith said: "You are out of control. You're probably beyond control. The people no longer want you in their midst.

"The carrying of weapons is only a small step away from the using of weapons.

"It only takes a victim of courage to put up a resistance to your onslaught and I've no doubt you would not hesitate to use them."

The gang was caught after Mercer's girlfriend was seen on CCTV at Cash Express trying to sell the children's presents.

The court heard Mercer has been committing crime since he was nine, including four street robberies before he was 15.


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Gang leader bit off inmate's ear


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