Former husband who cut off his ex-wife's ear is jailed for nine years

Patrick Reilly was helped by his niece Kelly Corcoran in the attack and she was jailed for five years.

Kathleen Reilly was dragged by the hair into her house by Corcoran and her mother Deborah and held down while she was kicked and punched by Reilly.

She had been tricked into opening the door of her Bloxwich home shortly before midnight on April 4 by Kelly Corcoran, 26, who stood alone on the doorstep while the other two hid, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The three shouted obscenities at her, waking her three children who came downstairs. Reilly brandished a flick knife at the screaming children before he sliced the victim's ear telling her: "No other man will ever look at you again." The three then fled the house in Bloxwich Lane.

Judge Marcus Tregilgas-Davey said the attack had left Kathleen Reilly permanently disfigured because medics were unable to reattach her ear.

Addressing he said: "You brandished a knife at your own children. It beggars belief that a man would do that to his three young children."

The court heard that Reilly, 37, could not accept that his wife would not have him back and that his sister and niece believed she had brought shame on the family as a result.

Reilly and Deborah Corcoran travelled from their homes in Ashby-de-la-Zouch for the attack, picking up her daughter in Walsall. All three were convicted of causing grievous bodily harm following a trial. Deborah Corcoran has been jailed for six years.

Miss Emma Coverley, defending, said Reilly had learning difficulties. Mr Graham Henson, for Kelly, of Bristol, said she felt rejected by her mother and was desperate to please her.