A 20-year-old had half his ear bitten off on a dance floor during violence at a Banbury nightclub, a jury heard yesterday.

Gary Maguire, of Clifford Road, Blackpool, has gone on trial accused of wounding with intent after a fight in the town’s Sound Exchange nightclub on March 3 last year. He denies the charge.

Jonathan Stone, prosecuting, said the 40-year-old attacked Ryan Knight during an argument between two groups over a friend of Maguire who was allegedly pushing people.

He said this led to a “tussle” on the dance floor and a witness described seeing the defendant with his head to the side of Mr Knight’s head “for about 30 seconds or so.”

Mr Stone added that this was enough time to inflict a “rather nasty injury” which required plastic surgery.

The trial continues.