A Tiverton thug bit the nose of his girlfriend so hard she thought it would come off after she rebuffed his advances, a court has heard.
Yesterday Alex Waterman, 27, of Westexe South, Tiverton, was sentenced to two 18-month suspended prison sentences after being found guilty of assaulting Stephanie Roberts and causing criminal damage to her home.
The court was shown pictures of the injuries which resulted from Waterman's attack on Ms Roberts and the destruction he caused at her property, where he was staying.
On Saturday, January 18, the pair had returned to Ms Roberts' house from a skittles match after an evening of drinking. Ms Roberts, who had work the next day, wanted to go to bed early.
The prosecution said Waterman started touching Ms Roberts while she tried to sleep. After she pushed him off, he became aggressive.
Waterman, who works as a mechanic, began causing damage, smashing a mirrored lamp and breaking the bedroom door.
The prosecution told how Ms Roberts said in her report she was extremely frightened, and attempted to leave the property via the back door.
Ms Roberts had one foot out of the door when Waterman dragged her by the neck and hair back inside into the kitchen and living room before throwing her to the floor, the court said.
The prosecution told magistrates Waterman sat on top of her, preventing her from moving.
Prosecutors said: "Ms Roberts said, 'I thought I was going to die. He was so angry and so livid, he bit my nose so hard I thought he was going to bite it off. He banged my head three or four times against the ground'."
Magistrates were told how Ms Roberts got up sat on the sofa and remembers "hurting all over" and the room being "covered in glass". Waterman began trying to cuddle her, repeating, "I don't know why, I don't know why".
The prosecution told the court police handling the case said Ms Roberts' injuries were consistent with her account.
Ms Roberts text messaged her sister before they went back to bed asking "Are you up?".
The next day at work Ms Roberts reported the crime to police who brought Waterman in for questioning on the same day.
The prosecution told how police said the suspect did not speak at all throughout questioning.
Waterman's solicitor said while his client had been "a bit of a tearaway" in the past, he was now in employment as a mechanic which had a stabilising factor to his life.
His solicitor told the court how Waterman had a more "responsible attitude towards drinking" since taking up banger racing as a hobby. The sport breathalyses drivers before racing, meaning Waterman would be unable to participate if he had been drinking.
Waterman had denied both charges at an earlier hearing.
Magistrates found Waterman guilty of assault, sentencing him to an 18-month suspended jail term and handed him a further 18-month suspended sentence for criminal damage. Magistrates said they took into account the serious injuries sustained and previous convictions which include an assault on a Tiverton Gazette reporter.
Waterman was ordered to pay £300 compensation, £250 in court costs and £80 for the victim surcharge.
He agreed to pay £30 a week.
Waterman was also issued a two-year restraining order banning him from Palmertson Park, Tiverton, Devon Cliffs holiday park in Exmouth and two further residential areas.
Waterman is banned from having any further contact with Ms Roberts.
