A MAN has been jailed for seven years after he threatened to cut off his victim’s ear and feed it to him.

Colin Croft subjected neighbour Matthew Wood to a chilling attack at his flat, in Rogation Close, Stanway, a court heard.

Croft, 29, slashed him with a knife, bound his wrists and ankles with tape, stuffed a sock in his mouth and threatened to kill him, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

Mr Wood has been left traumatised and has a 14cm-long scar across his chest.

Judge Mr Justice Nicol said psychiatric reports suggested Croft had not addressed alcohol and drugs problems and regarded him as a danger to the public.

The judge said the attack also showed a significant degree of planning.

He sentenced Croft, who admitted wounding, to seven years in prison, plus an extended licence period of three years.

Croft and former partner Kelly Clarke forced their way into Mr Wood’s ground-floor flat on March 7.

The court was told Croft wanted to buy cannabis, but Mr Wood denied any involvement in drugs.

He bound Mr Wood’s wrists and ankles with tape he and Clarke had brought with them.

Croft threatened to stab Mr Wood in the head and neck, cut off his ear and feed it to him.

He also ordered Clarke to bring a sock, which he stuffed in Mr Wood’s mouth.

The court heard Croft asked Clarke: “Should we kill him or take him with us?”

She said: “No, leave him.” They left Mr Wood tied up in his flat. Clarke, of South Street, Colchester, was jailed for six months in August for her part in the offence.

She and Croft had been due to face trial, accused of wounding Mr Wood and aggravated burglary.

Clarke admitted stealing a mobile phone and scissors from the flat, which was accepted by the prosecution.

The court heard on Friday the ordeal had left Mr Wood feeling nervous and embarrassed by the scar on his chest.

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said: “It is an assault which went on for some appreciable period.

“We say there was certainly a degree of premeditation in that he turned up with a knife and tape. He certainly played the leading role.”

Representing Croft, Gareth Hughes said in mitigation: “This was an offence that took place while Croft was heavily intoxicated.

“Unpleasant, of course, but fortunately it was a single slash wound and one that appears to have at least not caused the sort of injury one is so familiar with in these courts.”

After the hearing, Det Con Jim Finnigan, from Colchester CID, said: “This was a very nasty offence and extremely traumatic for the victim who was subjected to a lengthy assault.

“The seriousness of the crime is reflected in the long sentence.”