Thug, 37, caught on CCTV biting half a police officer’s ear off is jailed for eight years

This is the moment a snarling thug bit half an ear off a police officer in a sickening attack that landed him eight years in jail for ‘using his teeth as a weapon’.

Shocking CCTV footage shows Louey Kostromin launch a frenzied attack on officers trying to restrain him.

The 37-year-old was wanted on recall to prison when probation officers arrested him in Northampton on August 6 last year.

But Kostromin grabbed PC Callum Burke by the throat and repeatedly bit him, tearing off half of his ear and leaving him requiring eight stitches.

He battered another officer, punching him in the face. Kostromin, of no fixed address, was jailed yesterday after he was found guilty of grievous bodily harm and assaulting a constable in the execution of their duty.

Sentencing him at Northampton Crown Court, Judge Adrienne Lucking told Kostromin he used his teeth ‘as a weapon’.

She said: ‘Body-worn video of the officers shows they were patient and calm, when you punched one officer in the jaw.

‘The officers tried to detain you, but you grabbed one PC by the neck with your hand and launched an attack with your teeth, holding on for around 15 seconds.’

PC Burke told the trial that Kostromin ‘grabbed me by the neck’ and said he felt a ‘throbbing, searing pain straight away’ and was left with the top of his ear hanging off. Kostromin also bit PC Burke’s right arm and tried to bite his thigh.

The thug is pictured punching an officer in Northampton during a sickening attack that left one with half an ear 

The court heard PC Burke now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and is unable to carry out frontline duties.

The court heard Kostromin had 39 previous convictions, including two previous assaults on police officers, possession of a samurai sword, possession of drugs and robbery.

Kostromin was ordered to serve an extended sentence of 11 years and ten months for the GBH, of which seven years and ten months will be in prison, plus a further four years on licence.

Speaking outside court, Detective Sergeant Karl Curtis, of Northamptonshire Police CID, said: ‘The assault Kostromin carried out against these officers as they simply tried to do their jobs was truly shocking.

Kostromin lashes out at police officers in Northampton. Yesterday he was jailed for eight years over the assault 

The yob is starting an eight-year prison sentence after being found guilty of GBH and assaulting a constable in the execution of their duty

‘He employed his teeth as a weapon and even when restrained continued to bite and lash out.

‘The officers showed commendable courage and professionalism in ensuring Kostromin was detained despite his feral behaviour, and it’s gratifying to see his sentence reflect both the seriousness of what he did as well as the considerable level of danger he poses to society.’

Assistant Chief Constable Simon Blatchly added: ‘The level of violence involved in this offence is shocking and I welcome this sentence as a demonstration that attacks on police officers are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.’