A TAXI driver has given up his livelihood after a drunken passenger bit off part of his ear.

Former cabbie Chris Harrison may need reconstructive surgery following the unprovoked attack in July in which drunken passenger Dane Hodkinson attempted to tear off part of his ear.

Hodkinson pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and appeared before a senior judge at Liverpool Crown Court for sentence.

However, after learning that Hodkinson was in court earlier this year for another ear biting incident, the judge adjourned the case for further information.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that at about 5am on July 13 this year, taxi driver Christopher Harrison drove to the McDonalds restaurant at the linkway in St Helens to collect a fare, Hodkinson.

CCTV footage was played to the court showing Hodkinson getting into the front passenger seat where he then punched the driver after being asked if he had the fare.

Both men then got out of the car and began to exchange punches.

Tom Watson, prosecuting, said that Hodkinson pulled his victim’s t-shirt over his head, knocked him to the kerb and began to rain blows down on him.

Mr Harrison had pushed his panic button and was screaming for help as Hodkinson began to bite him on the fingers, elbow and then finally took a chunk out of his ear.

After being arrested by police officers, Hodkinson, who had drunk 20 pints followed by jager bombs at a wedding in St Helens, smashed his head on the inside of the police van and tried to say they had assaulted him, but the incident was caught on CCTV.

When he sobered up he said he remembered being in a "scuffle" but later pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The court heard that Hodkinson, of Westleigh Lane, Leigh, has previous convictions for possessing an offensive weapon, threatening behaviour and affray.

Sentencing is expected to take place on October 22.