A FORMER soldier dressed as Colonel Gaddafi for a ‘bad taste party’ has been jailed for 16 months for biting off a pub-goer’s ear.

Afghanistan veteran Geraint Jones, 25, donned a curly wig and orange tribal robes as he carried out the savage attack in Aberystwyth, on Gwynant Jones, from Machynlleth.

Swansea Crown Court heard the history student sunk his teeth into Gwynant Jones’ ear, while on a pub crawl.

The Gaddafi-clad reveller had only been in the bar for six minutes when he bit off his victim’s ear - and spat it on the floor.

Victim Mr Jones then gave police a vivid description of the attacker - who was spotted on CCTV in his garb as the Libyan dictator.

On Monday, the ex-solider was sentenced to 16 months in prison.

Mobile app designer Gwynant Jones, 25, was at the Academy bar in Aberystwyth, when he was bitten by the fancy dress despot.

Jones - who served on the frontline with the Army - said he had been on a drinking session of more than six hours on October 31, 2015.

During his trial he said: “I accept biting Gwynant’s ear, that day I started to drink while watching the rugby during the afternoon.

“When I approached him, my intention was to bite his ear. It’s a horrible thing to do but it was not my intention to bite it off.”

Swansea Crown Court heard Gwynant Jones had been watching the Rugby World Cup on TV before the 11.25pm attack.

He had an operation at Morriston Hospital, Swansea, and needs further reconstructive surgery.

Geraint Jones, of Queen’s Avenue, Aberystwyth, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, and was cleared by a jury after 42 minutes of causing GBH with intent.

Following the trial, Gwynant Jones told the County Times: “I couldn’t sleep for the first few days after it, but it was the mental side of it, being conscious of it.

“I want to know why he did it, but he doesn’t even know that.”

Judge Geraint Walters said: “In drink you decided to bite your victim’s ear. That is the most savage deployment of force which on any view was wholly unjustified.

“There was something rather clinical in the use of force you admit deploying.”

Swansea Crown Court heard Jones bit his victim after there was some “pushing and shoving” at the bar.

Mr Walters said: “You decided to exact some revenge for it.

“Why then use your teeth as a weapon is the point of which I cannot understand.”

The judge accepted that the “mechanism” of Jones biting the ear and others pulling him away resulted in it ripping off.

The court heard Jones was about to enter his third year of International History and Politics where he was on course for a first class honours.