A man who bit off his stepfather’s nose during a drunken Christmas Day brawl has been jailed for 21 months.
Joseph Cardwell, 23, of Ambleside Drive, Kirkby, left William Darwin disfigured after a violent row broke out during a family dinner in Liverpool in 2023. The court heard that Cardwell, heavily intoxicated on brandy, turned on Darwin in a conservatory after a minor comment about his girlfriend.
Darwin, who had become engaged to Cardwell’s mother just a month earlier, tried to defuse the situation by putting the younger man in a bear hug. But Cardwell broke free and launched a brutal attack—sinking his teeth into Darwin’s nose and then spitting it onto the floor.
Darwin needed eight rounds of reconstructive surgery following the shocking assault.
Cardwell denied wounding with intent but was found guilty by a jury of inflicting grievous bodily harm. Liverpool Crown Court also handed him a five-year restraining order.
Judge Denis Watson KC described the incident as “a vicious and shocking display of violence,” adding: “You became like a dog with a bone… You were not prepared to let it go.”
The judge acknowledged that alcohol had played a significant role in the attack, saying Cardwell had “overreacted” to an innocuous remark and caused lasting trauma to the victim.
Sarah Holt, defending, described Cardwell as “regretful,” adding that there was no history of conflict between him and Darwin and that they had generally enjoyed a good relationship prior to the incident.
Detective Inspector Darren Hankin said: “This was a vicious and shocking display of violence. I hope Cardwell uses his time in custody to reflect on the long-lasting consequences of his actions.”
The attack has left Darwin with lasting physical and emotional scars. The court heard he continues to suffer from flashbacks and anxiety stemming from the ordeal.
