Office worker 'bit off woman's ear after she told her off for driving while on her mobile'

Chloe Hammond is accused of biting off a part of a woman's ear after she was told off for driving while on her phone
Central News
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An office worker bit off part of a woman's ear in a road rage attack after being told off for driving while on her mobile phone, a court heard.

Chloe Hammond, 27, allegedly lunged at Julie Holloway before clamping her teeth around her right ear during a spat on the Embankment in front of a crowd of people.

She is accused of flying into a rage when Ms Holloway, 56, tapped on the window of her Audi TT to complain about her driving.

Ms Holloway, who was heading to Embankment Pier for a boat party, said she did not realise what had happened until someone picked up part of her ear from the pavement.

She told Southwark crown court the spat started when she pointed out Ms Hammond, who had been beeping her horn, was on her phone.

The victim had to undergo reconstructive surgery after the incident
Central News

The incident, just after 2pm outside the Walkabout bar, was captured on CCTV and mobile phone footage, which shows Hammond rushing angrily at Ms Holloway.

"She pulled both sides of my hair and just lunged into my ear", said Ms Holloway.

"I had my head down, I didn't move and I felt a bite on my ear. I couldn't get her off me because she had lunged on to my ear."

Fighting back tears, Ms Holloway told the jury: "At the time I didn't grasp what had actually happened.

"I didn't know my ear had gone missing until someone picked it up off the floor. It was quite disturbing to see it.

"I still didn't realise that was my ear."

Ms Holloway, giving evidence from behind a screen, said she has undergone reconstructive surgery on her ear since the incident, on March 19, but it has not been totally successful.

"I was in such shock that another human being could bite someone's ear off", she added.

"She shouted at me about me smashing her window, but I hadn't smashed her window - she was just screaming at me.

It is said Hammond called her a "ugly bitch" during the clash.

Hammond, who is listed online as an office worker for Essex-based haulage firm Total UK Transportation, was questioned two days after the alleged attack after voluntarily going to a police station.

The court heard Hammond, from Rayleigh, Essex, has pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding but denies the more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The trial continues.

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