A savage thug strangled his girlfriend and bit her on the nose during a shocking attack.
Anthony Spiers, who has used domestic violence on the woman before, grabbed her round the throat during a drunken row at their home. A court heard he then leaned forward and sank his teeth into her nose, leaving her scarred for life.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the pair, both 30, had known each other since they were 14 and they have two children. On August 3 the victim went out with friends and when she got home Spiers had also been drinking and began arguing with her for reasons that were not revealed.
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Kevin Wardlaw, prosecuting, said: "She has limited recollection due to a mixture of alcohol and the assault but the defendant grabbed her with both hands around her neck and began squeezing.
"She said 'It felt like he was trying to strangle me, I remember feeling like I couldn't breathe'. He then pushed her to the floor or she fell to the floor and she found herself in a semi sitting position and he still had his hands around her neck.
"At that point he leaned forward and bit her on the nose. She didn't feel a great deal at that point, possibly because he was strangling her but she did sustain an injury to her nose. Her toe nail also became loose as a result of the assault."
The court heard the children were in the house at the time and when police arrived Spiers was bare-chested and had the victim's blood on his trousers.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said: "I was scared to go out of the house and had no confidence due to the injuries to my face. Due to his actions my confidence was shattered.
"I'm scared of him and what he's capable of. My injuries have begun to heal but I will have a permanent scar on my nose.
"I wont forget this but hopefully in time I can move on with my life."
The court heard Spiers, of Scott Street, Cramlington, Northumberland, has 12 previous convictions, including for assaulting the same victim twice previously. He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was convicted of intentional strangulation. He was jailed for three years and nine months.
Katie Spence, defending, said: "He wants the court to know he is extremely remorseful."
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