A VIOLENT man has been jailed after biting off part of his ex-girlfriend’s ear.

Christopher Jackson, 31, had already been jailed for eight weeks after being convicted in December 2017 of assaulting his 38-year-old former partner.

As part of the sentence, a 12-month restraining order banned him from contacting her or entering the street where she lived.

But just three weeks after that restraining order expired last December, Jackson visited the woman's home in a bid to try to win her back.

When she turned him away, Jackson launched a brutal attack in which he punched, kicked and stamped on her until she was lying unconscious in her home.

The victim had managed to make a silent 999 call during the assault and officers arrived on the scene to arrest the thug.

When police found the victim they were shocked to discover she was missing half of her ear– which experts said was caused by Jackson's teeth.

The Northern Echo:

She was taken to hospital to undergo treatment to the ear injury as well as significant bruising to her face, a broken nose and a fractured skull.

Jackson, of Split Crow Road, Gateshead, was later charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He pleaded guilty and on Tuesday was jailed for seven years and four months at Newcastle Crown Court.

Following the case, investigating officer Detective Constable Darren Davies said Jackson was a "violent thug" who deserved the "lengthy spell behind bars" handed to him by the judge.

He said: "This was a brutal and cowardly attack by a man who was far stronger than his victim and used that power to inflict horrific injuries upon her.

"He is a despicable human being who, like many perpetrators of domestic abuse, tried to apportion blame to his victim for his behaviour.

"Jackson was convicted for a previous assault on the same victim but that was nothing compared to this brutal attack that left his victim unrecognisable, with fractures to her nose and skull.

"Thankfully, the victim was able to dial 999 as Jackson began to lose his temper, meaning that emergency services were quickly on scene to get her to hospital.

"I want to praise her for the bravery she has shown throughout these proceedings and I hope she can sleep more easily at night knowing her attacker is in prison.

"Jackson is a violent thug who deserves to be behind bars and I am delighted with the sentence handed down by the judge at court."

Speaking after her attacker was jailed, the victim thanked police for their support and said Jackson had left her living in fear.

"It took a while for everything to sink it but now that it has I have been having flashbacks and I have not been able to leave the house on my own.

"I am struggling to get comfortable in my own home to the point that I am thinking about moving house.

"My injuries have still not fully healed and I have a scar on my chin which I see every day and my ear is still not fixed.

"I am still on medication for the pain but also for depression and anxiety. I have started going to counselling to help me get through it which is helping but will take time.

"I just want Christopher away from me and for him not to do this again," she said.

Police encourage victims of domestic abuse, or those who have experienced it in the past, to get in touch by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.

You can also report incidents online at northumbria.police.uk or, if you need support, you can contact independent charity Victims First Northumbria on 0800-0113116.