James Peter Millington: Richmond Hotel cop ear biter sentenced Lismore District Court
A South Lismore man has been sentenced for biting an off-duty police officer during a 2019 pub brawl and partially severing his ear.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A South Lismore man has been sentenced to jail for biting an off-duty cop during a 2019 pub brawl.
In June, James Peter Millington, 42, pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and wounding causing reckless actual bodily harm, but a judge-only Lismore District Court trial found him guilty on both counts.
On Friday (September 3) Millington was convicted on both counts and sentenced.
The court heard Millington bit off-duty police officer Terry Masters’ ear at the Richmond Hotel on Keen St, Lismore on December 13, 2019.
Millington was dancing aggressively on the dance floor before Senior Constable Terry Masters approached him telling him to calm down.
When Millington didn’t respond, Mr Masters approached 71-year-old security guard Walter Kidwell for assistance.
Mr Kidwell approached Millington but he lashed out, striking both the security guard and Mr Masters with the same punch.
Several other off-duty police officers then became involved in the altercation where Millington grabbed senior constable Terry Masters and bit him on the top of the ear.
As a result, Mr Masters’ ear was partially severed.
The court heard Millington had been removed from another venue prior to heading to the Richmond Hotel due to his apparent intoxication.
During his sentencing, Judge Jeffrey McLennan described the incident as an act of clear “savagery”.
He said a previous crime spree across Queensland and NSW, which included robbing a chemist at knifepoint and similar cases of alcohol-fuelled violence didn’t assist Millington’s case.
“He has demonstrated he’s prepared to engage in acts of violence, particularly when intoxicated,” he said.
Judge McLennan acknowledged Covid-19 custody complications and took Millington’s diagnosed alcohol use disorder into account.
However, he did not accept the defence’s argument that Millington had also suffered injuries during the fight or that he had been humiliated by media coverage.
McLennan sentenced Millington to four months jail, backdated to April 30, 21 for the assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
For the reckless wounding, he was sentenced to 17 months jail, backdated to April 30, 2021, with a non-parole period of eight months.
Millington is to be released on parole on December 29, 2021.
Builder fighting Ballina siege charges
A North Coast man allegedly armed himself with knives and a golf club during a six-hour siege in which he told tactical police he would not come peacefully and they would have to “shoot him”. Here’s the latest.
Cowardly ‘repeat DV offender’ jailed for punching woman
A Kyogle forklift driver has been jailed for punching a woman in the face after drinks at the Nimbin Hotel, breaching an apprehended violence order. Here’s what we know.