Friendly neighbour had ear bitten off in brutal homophobic attack after inviting lag round for drink
Colin Duncan, 39, feared he would die as 21-year-old Ryan Kilgariff viciously assaulted him because he was gay
A FRIENDLY neighbour had his ear bitten off in a homophobic attack after inviting round an ex-lag who had recently moved in next door.
Colin Duncan, 39, feared he would die as jailbird 21-year-old Ryan Kilgariff rained down blows on him with his fists, feet and a bottle.
Kilgariff has now been jailed for nine years for the terrifying assault.
Judge Adele Williams told the thug, who pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent: "All Mr Duncan was doing befriending you because you had shortly been released from prison.
"I have seen the photographs of the injuries - they are quite shocking.
"This was a grave offence."
Canterbury Crown Court heard how in March this year, Kilgariff had gone to stay at a house in Folkestone, Kent, after serving an 80-day sentence for attacking his mother.
Prosecutor Matthew Hardyman said Duncan, 39, invited his new neighbour around for a drink and they shared a bottle of vodka before buying more bottles of lager.
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But at midnight when Duncan said he was going to bed, Kilgariff launched "a sustained attack" on him.
Mr Hardyman added: "It resulted in Mr Duncan's right ear being severed and throughout the attack Kilgariff referred to his victim as being 'queer' and gay.
"Mr Duncan is gay but he had no idea that Kilgariff was homophobic."
Mr Hardyman said the victim needed 20 stitches for his injuries and luckily surgeons were able to re-attach part of his severed ear.
He said: "Mr Duncan cannot remember how many blows from the beer bottles were rained down on him as he protected himself with a blanket."
The prosecutor said that the victim pleaded with Kilgariff's partner, who heard the attack, to call the police - but she didn't.
Colin was only found the following afternoon when a care worker arrived and described the blood-soaked and broken glass-strewn aftermath as resembling "a crime scene."
Kilgariff, who has also been convicted for assaulting his partner, was arrested after he was spotted trying to get out of a window.
The victim later told police: "All I was trying to do was be kind and neighbourly to a man who had just been released from prison.
"I thought I was going to be murdered."
Kilgariff was given an immediate nine year jail sentence and the judge added another three to be served on licence when he is released.
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