Casualty and Game of Thrones actor's ear 'bitten off' by drunk attackers

Clive Mantle said that his ear was partially bitten off by two drunk men in a Newcastle hotel.

16:27 19 February 2014

Casualty and Game of Thrones actor Clive Mantle has appeared in court and had to relive the incident that left his ear permanently disfigured. Mantle, known for his longstanding role as Dr Mike Barrett in BBC Drama Casualty and his small role as Lord Greatjon Umber in Game of Thrones, said that he was attacked at a hotel in Newcastle by Philip McGilvray and Alan French who are both in their early 30s.

The actor, who was staying at the Travelodge hotel for six nights and who asked for a quiet room, said that the suspects were shouting in the corridor outside his ground-floor room.

He said that he repeatedly asked them to keep quiet. However, the two allegedly attacked him while walking towards the hotel’s reception to complain. He told the court that he fought back. He added: "The next thing I was aware of was a pain in my left ear which triggered a massive response within me.”

"The adrenaline it gave me enabled me to rip my right hand away. The only thing I could do is put my thumb in his eye socket to make him release."

Mantle, while giving his testimony, lifted his hair and showed the jury his disfigured left ear. McGilvray and French, both from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire, both deny wounding with intent.

The case continues.