Paul Maddock, Jack Maddock: Blue Cattle Dog Hotel, St Clair assault

A father armed himself with a service station squeegee and set upon a group of men before he bit a man’s ear in half during a wild brawl, a court has heard.

Gruesome details have emerged as a father and son faced court charged over an alleged brawl outside a pub in western Sydney which left a man’s ear bitten in half.

Paul Maddock, 45 and his son, Jack, 21, of St Clair pleaded not guilty to a string of charges after they allegedly assaulted a group of men walking home from the Blue Cattle Dog Hotel in St Clair last year.

Police allege the Maddocks had been drinking at the hotel on the evening of February 9, 2020, when they became aggressive with security guards at the venue and were asked to leave.

The Blue Cattle Dog Hotel, St Clair. Picture: Supplied

A group of three males, including an off-duty police officer, who had also been drinking at the pub, allegedly witnessed the Maddocks become aggressive with security and a short time later, were confronted by the men as they walked on nearby Banks Dr.

During a hearing at Penrith Local Court this week, the three victims gave evidence, with one of the men telling the court his ear was ripped in half by the older Maddock after he was punched in the head and blacked out.

He told the court he felt a “piercing and burning sensation” and required surgery at Nepean Hospital to stitch his ear back together. Photographs tendered to the court also showed an eye injury suffered by the victim.

The Blue Cattle Dog Hotel, St Clair. Picture: Supplied

A second man, who was also allegedly assaulted, described seeing his friend bleeding profusely with his ear partially detached.

He described the moment one of the men allegedly armed himself with a squeegee from a nearby service station and ran towards the group.

He said the Maddocks allegedly began throwing punches towards him and his friends, and in the heat of the tussle, pulled Paul Maddock off his friend upon releasing his gruesome injuries.

While trying to restrain him, it’s alleged Paul Maddock tried to bite the man’s fingers.

The court heard one of the men allegedly attacked in the altercation was an off-duty police officer.

Giving evidence to the court, Paul Maddock argued he and his son had acted in self-defence and were provoked by patrons at the hotel yelling out their surname as they were escorted away by security.

He admitted to using a squeegee and claimed he bit the victim’s ear due to concerns he was being “choked” while being pinned.

Penrith Courthouse. Picture: David Swift

“I am not guilty it was all in self-defence,” Paul Maddock told the court.

However, he admitted to biting the man’s ear and apologised, with Magistrate Brian van Zuylen interrupting him midway and telling him it was not the time to do so.

“For my safety I bit him on the ear, I was being choked. I’m sorry for any injuries I’ve caused,” he said.

Magistrate van Zuylen dismissed Paul Maddock’s claims and convicted him of reckless wounding and affray.

Jack Maddock was convicted of affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. A further charge of common assault was dropped.

The pair will return to court for sentencing in July.