A man "latched on" to his partner's chin in a "barbaric" biting attack after he was woken up from sleeping and then tripped over.
Andrew Harbottle had been drinking alcohol while putting up a Christmas tree with his partner on December 12 last year. Despite having a "pleasant evening", Harbottle was later woken up by his partner and then tripped over as he walked around the bedroom - but when his partner attempted to help him up, he launched a violent biting attack that last around 15 minutes and left the woman needing stitches.
On Thursday, Harbottle appeared at Durham Crown Court to be sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He had pleaded guilty to the charge at a previous hearing.