Chef, 32, who was on bail for trying to rape a 13-year-old girl bit off a complete stranger’s bottom lip ‘like a dog with a bone’ after punching him off bar stool in random pub attack
- Sean Johnson, 32, sunk his teeth into Marc Touze’s mouth for seven seconds
- Attack took place at Berkeley Inn in Wigan, Greater Manchester, in July last year
A chef who was on bail for trying to rape a teenage girl bit off a stranger’s bottom lip in a pub like he was a ‘dog with a bone’ in a random pub attack.
, 32, punched mechanical engineer Marc Touze, in his 50s, off a bar stool then sunk his teeth into his mouth before shaking his head furiously from side-to-side for seven seconds to tear a piece of his lip away.
Regulars at the Berkeley Inn in Wigan, Greater Manchester, looked on in horror as Johnson eventually bit off Mr Touze’s lower lip before spitting it onto the floor. He was then thrown out of the pub as the bloodied victim was tended to at the scene.
Mr Touze, a grandfather in his 50s who lives in Swansea but was working in Wigan, will now be scarred for life after plastic surgeons attempted to repair his lip. Regulars at the pub described him as being ‘respectful, pleasant [and] well-liked’.
When police visited him in hospital he broke down in tears and said: ‘Look at me. I just can’t understand it, I’m a human being yet he came over and done something like this. I’ve got to go home and face my wife, my kids and grandkids.’
Sean Johnson, 32, admitted to causing grievous bodily harm with intent at Bolton Crown Court
Marc Touze (pictured), will now be scarred for life after plastic surgeons attempted to repair his lip
Johnson, who lost his right foot in an undisclosed incident in 2020, was arrested shortly after the attack on July 25 last year. He then admitted to causing grievous bodily harm with intent at Bolton Crown Court.
He told officers: ‘It’s strange how I’ve been reading a book about someone who kills a detective.’
At the time of the attack the 32-year-old was on bail awaiting trial on charges of sexual activity with a child, sexual assault and attempted rape.
He was convicted of 27 sex offences upon a 13-year-old girl at an earlier hearing and will be sentenced later.
Alaric Bassano, prosecuting, explained how Mr Touze’s job as a mechanical engineer requires him to travel from his home in Swansea to work in different parts of the UK.
From January last year up until the time of the attack in July he was working 11 day stints in Wigan with three day returns home.
During this time he often visited the Berkeley Inn, where he was well liked by other patrons with whom he made friends.
Mr Bassano added: ‘On the evening of Monday 25th July 2022 Mr Touze and his work colleague went to the pub after work. They were there from 5pm drinking at the bar, speaking to other customers, listening to karaoke and partaking in the Monday night pub games.
‘At 8.15pm the defendant approached Mr Touze at the bar, reached around him and took hold of Mr Touze’s pint glass from the counter. Mr Touze took back his pint glass and asked: ‘What are you doing?’ Mr Touze moved his ear closer to the defendant as if to better hear what the the defendant was saying but without warning the defendant then attacked Mr Touze.
‘He punched Mr Touze three times to the side of his head causing him to fall off his stool and onto the ground. Witnesses describe how Mr Touze’s hands were by his sides, posing no threat and he fell onto his back and appeared to be unconscious. He wasn’t moving or putting up any resistance. But the defendant got on top of him and punched Mr Touze repeatedly to the face as he lay lifeless on the ground.’
One eye witness said: ‘The offender leant down and grabbed with his mouth what I thought was his nose and shook his head like a dog would shake their head with a bone for approximately seven seconds.
‘The offender then looked to spit something out of his mouth onto the floor. Moments later I realised it was the victim’s bottom lip that had been fully bitten off.’
Pictured: The Berkeley Inn pub in Wigan, Greater Manchester, where the attack happened
Johnson, a chef, was on bail awaiting trial on charges of sexual activity with a child, sexual assault and attempted rape
He was convicted of 27 sex offences upon a 13-year-old girl at an earlier hearing and will be sentenced later
The 32-year-old had a previous warning for affray in 2006 when he was just 15 and in 2010 he was locked up for two and a half years for GBH after he attacked a friend with a pair of bolt cutters
‘The defendant was pulled off Mr Touze and, before the gravity of the assault was realised, he was ejected from the premises. The chunk of Mr Touze’s bottom lip was found on the floor.
‘Police approached the defendant in the town centre a few minutes later whilst he was on his mobile phone and he made no attempt to evade arrest. On hearing the details he said: “Is it going to be a Section 18 this?”‘
In interview Johnson declined to answer questions but submitted a short prepared statement claiming ‘I acted in self-defence’.
He had a previous warning for affray in 2006 when he was just 15 and in 2010 he was locked up for two and a half years for GBH after he attacked a friend with a pair of bolt cutters causing serious injuries to the victim’s eye.
In his statement Mr Touze said: ‘This has affected my mental health greatly. Since hearing what actually happened to me, I have become quite angry because I was ‘sucker punched’ which means I never got the chance to defend myself.
‘This has demasculinised me, which is causing me to become angry, causing arguments in my marriage.
‘I have lack of feeling in and around my mouth and I have been told that I will never full feeling again.
‘I am not even allowed to kiss my wife. I have been unable to sleep without waking up in extreme pain. I cannot eat properly and I have to drink hot liquids without a straw.
‘Since having the reconstructive surgery, I now have a bigger upper lip compared to my bottom lip. This causes me to dribble often and I cannot contain my saliva.
‘This makes me very self-conscious and I always have to make sure I have tissues in my hand. I am yet to have more reconstructive surgery and multiple doctors’ appointments.’
‘This incident has not only affected me, but it has really affected my whole family. This has even caused my wife’s psoriasis to flare up. This incident has caused me great pain, but it has also affected me emotionally. I am really struggling to come to terms with what has happened to me’.
In mitigation for Johnson, defence counsel James Heyworth said his client was due to enrol on an anger management course and added: ‘He has shown remorse in respect of the significant injury he caused to Mr Touze.’
Source: Read Full Article
