Ear ‘bitten off’ in Urban Oven attack

A former model has undergone £10,000-worth of reconstructive surgery on his ear after a vicious and unprovoked attack in Durham’s Urban Oven takeaway.

Marco Oswald, who turned 23 on Saturday, was out with friends when he was attacked in the Claypath pizza takeaway at 1.10am on May 6 last year.

Marco Oswald with his girlfriend Gemma Vasey

He was waiting for his order with his girlfriend when a stranger entered the takeaway and began to fight him.

Marco said: “He got me onto the floor and said he was going to bite my ear off and eat it.”

The man bit Marco’s left ear, tearing off a part half-way up.

A takeaway worker jumped from behind the counter and pulled the attacker away.

Bleeding heavily, Marco rushed to hospital.

“There was a bit of my ear lobe hanging loose and the surgeon managed to sew that back on,” he said.

“Part of my ear is missing and hasn’t been recovered, but the surgeon did say she was confident she could have me looking OK again.”

Last Wednesday Marco underwent five hours of reconstructive surgery. Cartilage was cut from his right ear and skin grafted from his arm. It could be another year, however, before the bitten ear heals and the victim will be left with permanent scars.

“I hadn’t done anything to annoy this guy,” he said, “I hadn’t seen him before.”

Eight months on and the attacker is yet to be identified. Durham police have reissued their appeal for details on the attack and Mr Oswald’s family is offering a £2,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.

Marco described the suspect as roughly 5ft 8in with light brown hair, wearing a white top and dark trousers.

If you are able to assist the investigation please call Durham Constabulary on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.