The Spanish Town police in St Catherine have held a schoolboy after he was accused of biting off the ear of another at school yesterday.

The schoolboy was reportedly held at his home where he fled immediately after the incident, THE WEEKEND STAR understands. Both boys are 15 years old and in Grade 9.

Reports are that both students had a dispute over $40 and got into a tussle when one bit off the other's ear. He spat it on the ground, ran and jumped the perimeter fence and escaped.

The injured student was taken to the hospital where he was treated and released last night. The other boy was later held by the police on suspicion of unlawful wounding.

Violence in schools across the island has escalated since the start of the year resulted in the deaths of two students in St Catherine and St Ann.