A man has cut off his ears in a bid to look more like his pet parrot – and is now seeking a surgeon to turn his nose into a beak.
Ted Richards, 56, is obsessed by pets Ellie, Teaka, Timneh, Jake and Bubi, and has his face and eyeballs tattooed to pay tribute to them.
The eccentric animal lover, who has 110 tattoos, 50 piercings and a split tongue, had his lobes removed by a surgeon in a six hour operation.
He has given the severed ears to a friend he said would “appreciate them” by preserving them in resin.
Mr Richards said he was delighted with his new look
He said: “I think it looks really great. I love it. It’s the best thing that has happened to me.
“I am so happy it’s unreal, I can’t stop looking in the mirror.
“I’ve done it because I want to look like my parrots as much as possible.
“I’ve had my hair long for so many years my ears have been covered up.
“I have to admit I did used to get teased at school about my ears because they were big, but that not the reason I’ve had it done.
“The kids are running up to me and asking to see gory photos – they just love it.
“They are just so fascinated. I was really surprised – I thought they were more likely to run away.”
Mr Richards, a retired shoe factory worker, got his first tattoo in 1976 and has since built up a collection covering almost his entire body.
Mr Richards is keeping tight-lipped about who carried out the six hour operation, but insists he is “happier than ever,” and has even now got himself a girlfriend, Suzannah, 31.
Since undergoing the operation he says the only issue he has is keeping his glasses in place – so he has had two small metal pins added to the side of his head.