A MAN was savagely beaten up and had part of his cheek bitten off because he described a passing woman 'as fit as f**k', a court heard. The court was told Aaron Wanklyn was walking home from a Cheltenham nightclub when he saw Michelle Byrne and remarked to friend Liam Ogden how 'fit' she looked.

5 The court was told Byrne kicked and stamped on Mr Wanklyn Credit: JOHN HAWKINS 5 Byrne smiling as she arrives at court today Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Ms Byrne and her companion Christopher Wilkinson turned and followed Mr Wanklyn after the comment and Wilkinson then launched an attack, punching him to the ground and biting him on the face as they grappled, prosecutor Julian Kesner told Gloucester Crown Court. He alleged that Ms Byrne, 31, joined in the assault when she could see Mr Wanklyn getting the better of the fight. "Her actions were clear. She wanted Christopher Wilkinson to do the beating up, not Aaron Wanklyn," said Mr Kesner. "So she kicked Mr Wanklyn. He didn't see who kicked him but it is clear on the evidence that it couldn't have been anyone else because no-one else was involved in the fight. "She kicked Mr Wanklyn in the face, making contact with his nose and eye socket. " Mr Kesner said Wilkinson then pulled Mr Wanklyn's face closer to his and bit into his cheek.

"Ms Byrne then proceeded to escalate things further. She started stomping on Mr Wanklyn's head. She did so wearing high heels. This was witnessed by Liam Ogden and two other people." Mr Ogden said Christopher Wilkinson was biting his friend and the female then started stamping on Aaron's face, using the heel of her shoe. He saw her kicking and punching Mr Wanklyn in the face. Mr Kesner said when Wilkinson and Ms Byrne were arrested she had Mr Wanklyn's blood on her hand. "It had come from Mr Wanklyn's severed cheek," said Mr Kesner. "The cheek that had been severed by Mr Wilkinson." It is the prosecution case that the alleged attack was a joint enterprise. It was the joint intention of Wilkinson and Michelle Byrne to cause serious harm to Aaron Wanklyn. "He said 'extreme violence' was needed to stop the fight. Friends of Mr Wanklyn had to kick Wilkinson in the head and push Ms Byrne away to stop the attack.

5 The jury was told Mr Wanklyn's cheek had been severed Credit: John Hawkins 5 The court heard Byrne had blood on her hand Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

A taxi marshall at the scene had turned to see Ms Byrne stamping on Mr Wanklyn three times with her right shoe and he ran over to assist in pulling her away, the prosecutor added. When first arrested at the scene Ms Byrne told police the blood on Wilkinson had come from her hand after she cut herself earlier. In fact it was Mr Wanklyn's blood on both of them, said Mr Kesner. Later she stated that she and Wilkinson were on their way from the Prom Vaults to Fever when 'two lads came running aggressively towards them and punched Wilkinson in the face.' She said the attacker then ran off and Wilkinson went after him. Mr Kesner said: "She went on to say that she used to get beaten up by her boyfriend which made her see a red mist and things would happen when she was angry and she doesn't remember what happens." The prosecutor showed the jury a picture of Mr Wanklyn's savaged cheek and said: "I can see some of you looking a little bit disturbed at the photographs." Earlier the jury panel had been told there would be unpleasant pictures to look at and that anyone who was squeamish would not be called to serve. But none of the panel indicated that they would rather not be on the jury. Ms Byrne, of Edinburgh Place, Cheltenham, admits unlawfully wounding Mr Wanklyn but denies doing so with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on Aug 29th 2014. Then I could feel a kick to the nose. I shouted ‘He’s biting my face, get him the f**k off me Aaron Wanklyn to court Mr Kesner told the jury that Wilkinson, of O'Brien Rd, Springbank, Cheltenham, has admitted the charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and is therefore not on trial. In evidence Mr Wanklyn told the jury he was walking along Regent street and saw Ms Byrne walk by. "I said something like 'she's f***ing fit' - I made that comment to Liam but it was out loud," he said. "I went round the corner and I heard Liam call my name. I turned around and saw Wilkinson trying to punch me. He didn't connect because I managed to dodge out of the way. I punched him back and I think hit his jaw. "He stumbled back a little bit. I stepped forward and we grappled. We went to the ground and punching between us carried on. "Then I could feel a kick to the nose. I shouted 'He's biting my face, get him the f**k off me." He said he had lost a 'chunk of cheek' and had to have reconstruction surgery. He had 30 internal stitches and another thirty externally.

5 Byrne said she could not remember much about the incident Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd