A man went on trial yesterday for allegedly biting off another man's ear in a nightclub brawl.

James (Jamie) Jermaine Rayner, 27, of St. David's, was accused of grievous bodily harm against Damon Rabain in what the prosecution claimed was an act of revenge in August of last year.

Magistrates Court heard how Rayner is alleged to have punched Mr. Rabain to the floor before biting off a large chunk of his right ear in Club 40.

Crown counsel Oonagh Vaucrosson told the court that the incident arose because Mr. Rabain had set his American Staffordshire Terrier on Rayner some months before.

She said that Rayner had approached Mr. Rabain in the nightspot and said `I haven't forgotten about the dog bite'.

The prosecutor said Rayner then punched Mr. Rabain and a fight broke out.

Giving evidence, Mr. Rabain said he was out with his friends when Rayner came up and whispered in his ear.

Mr. Rabain said he was hit from behind and they wrestled to the ground.

He told the court afterwards he realised he had lost part of his ear. He put the piece of ear in a bucket of ice and took it with him to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where it was stitched back on. However, the operation was not successful.

Mrs. Vaucrosson asked Mr Rabain about his relationship with Rayner, to which he replied that he had known him for a number of years, but that he only felt "contempt" for him.

Defence counsel Elizabeth Christopher, in cross examination, asked Mr. Rabain: "Why did Mr. Rayner attack you?"

The alleged victim said he did not know why he had been attacked, but then repeated the claim that Rayner had approached him and said he had not forgotten the dog bite.

Mr. Rabain told the court that he had set his dog on Rayner in September 2000, causing Rayner to suffer leg injuries.

"I put my dog on him and on someone else," said Mr. Rabain.

Ms Chistopher responded: "So, Mr. Rayner is not the only one that you have sicked (set) your dog on?"

"No", said Rabain.

She added: "Would I be correct in saying that you have a propensity for violence?"

Mr. Rabain said: "No".

Ms Christopher suggested that it was Mr. Rabain who had thrown the first punch, and that her client had never mentioned the dog bite.

Ms Christopher said Mr. Rabain's Police statement merely reported him as claiming that Rayner had said `I have not forgotten'.

She said she wanted to know why he was now adding the issue of the dog bite.

Ms Christopher asked if he knew whether Mr. Rayner suffered any injuries from the dog incident and suggested that Mr. Rabain did not care.

Mr. Rabain responded: "No, I didn't care."

The court heard how the dog attack was not reported to Police.

Ms Christopher said: "I am suggesting that your dog caused very serious injuries to Mr. Raynor's leg and that when you saw him in Club 40 you were provoking him."

Mr Rabain, who is currently serving four years in prison for unpaid fines of $60,000 from a drug matter, denied the suggestion.

Dr. Aidan Murray, a plastic surgeon, told the court that Mr. Rabain had lost 66 percent of his ear and would have to receive treatment for several years. He said it may also affect his hearing.

The case was adjourned until July 16.