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Robber bit off victim’s ear in raid on house
A robber who bit off part of his victim’s ear as he attacked him and his wife in their own home has been jailed indefinitely.
Paul Gray and an unknown accomplice terrified the married couple at the home in Earlsheaton, Dewsbury, before forcing them to open a safe which contained £5,000.
Gray, 40, and the other man burst into the property on August 13 last year wearing balaclavas.
Phillip Adams, prosecuting at Leeds Crown Court, said the husband was attacked before feeling an extreme pain as one of his attackers made a “growling” noise.
The wife was then forced into another room and was knocked to the floor before having a knife held to her throat.
One of the men then shouted: “Where is the money? Where is the safe? Tell us or we will cut your bird’s throat.”
The couple were then forced upstairs as the safe could only be opened through the recognition of the husband’s finger prints.
As they fled with the cash, one of the men said: “Happy pay day boys.”
DNA found on the victim’s T-shirt linked Gray to the offence and he handed himself into the police and made full admissions to the offence.
The court heard Gray, of Ravensthorpe Road, Dewsbury, has previous convictions for violence, including one for biting the finger of a nightclub doorman.
Andrew Dallas, mitigating, described the offence as out of Gray’s league. He said Gray had agreed to go with his accomplice to provide a “bit of muscle”.
Mr Dallas said Gray was remorseful and the offence occurred while he was going through a separation from his wife.
Judge Roger Ibbotson imposed an indeterminate prison sentence as he believed Gray will pose a significant risk to the public in the future.
Gray must serve a minimum of four and a half years before he can apply to the parole board for release.
The judge said he was imposing the sentence due to Gray’s previous offending.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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