Army corporal who bit soldier in attack locked up for 12 months

British Army corporal who bit and punched soldier during ‘frenzied’ Xmas party attack after he was accused of calling Muslim colleague a ‘P***’ is locked up for 12 months

• Corporal Paul Byron left Lance Corporal Dean Taylor with blood ‘all down’ face
• Byron was also accused of calling soldier Lance Corporal Faisal Murtaza a ‘P***’

A British Army corporal who left a fellow solider covered in blood after a ‘frenzied’ attack and allegedly called a Muslim colleague a ‘P***’ at a Christmas party has been locked up for 12 months.

Corporal Paul Byron followed Lance Corporal Dean Taylor into toilets at the boozy party at Kendrew Barracks, Rutland, in December 2021 and attacked him after he was accused of racially abusing Lance Corporal Faisal Murtaza.

Byron then hit LCpl Taylor on the back of the head, repeatedly punched and kneed him – leaving the victim with blood ‘all down’ his face after ‘growling’ at him and biting his ears and nose.

The pair were left tangled on the toilet floor before Byron was pulled away from the brutal and ‘unprovoked’ assault by a different colleague.

Byron has now been sentenced for 12 months and had his rank reduced to Lance Corporal following his conviction for causing actual bodily harm at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, last month.

Corporal Paul Byron (pictured) followed Lance Corporal Dean Taylor into toilets at the boozy party at Kendrew Barracks, Rutland, in December 2021 and attacked him

Byron then hit LCpl Taylor (pictured) on the back of the head, repeatedly punched and kneed him – leaving the victim with blood ‘all down’ his face after ‘growling’ at him and biting his ears and nose

During his trial, prosecutor Major James Eveleigh said: ‘Byron and LCpl Taylor both attended a unit Christmas function.

‘Everyone was in best dress, nothing out of the ordinary, but of course alcohol was involved.

‘The defendant became involved in a series of backwards and forwards arguments which culminated in a suggestion of racist behaviour from Byron towards Lance Corporal Faisal Murtaza.

‘These arguments were thought to have been settled in a practical way – but that wasn’t the case for Byron. LCpl Taylor went to the toilets and was standing with his back to the door.

‘As he stood in that position he was struck on the back of the head and dealt a number of blows all while his body was wedged between the toilet and cubicle wall.

‘He managed to turn around and face Byron, who proceeded to attack him as he lay helplessly on the floor.

But Byron has now been sentenced for 12 months and had his rank reduced to Lance Corporal following his conviction for causing actual bodily harm at Bulford Military Court (pictured), Wiltshire, last month

‘Byron was shouting, swearing and even growling at him in what was a frenzied attack. He bit him on the back of the head and ears, causing his blood to freely run.

‘It was unprovoked, extreme violence conducted in drink and only separated by a bystander.’

After being separated, details of the incident eventually were reported up the chain of command and Service Police were informed.

LCpl Taylor told the court Byron had threatened him earlier in the evening. He said: ‘He came over to the table and said ‘I’ll kick your head in’ – he was very drunk and angry. He called LCpl Murtaza a P***.’

LCpl Murtaza and Byron had shaken hands after the alleged racist remark before LCpl Taylor was assaulted, the court heard.

LCpl Taylor added: ‘I started going to the toilet in a cubicle and I got punched from behind and fell,’ he continued.

‘I tried to get him off me but I was being punched and kneed in the face.

‘He was very angry, swearing, punching, biting. He bit me on the front of my nose, my ear, on the back of my head. I had blood all down my face.’

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