A man who shattered a woman’s front teeth by headbutting her in the face has been ordered by a judge to pay £1,500 compensation.

Jack Gillespie attacked the young mother during an argument at a flat in Bingley, Bradford Crown Court heard.

The violent blow on September 21, 2020, broke the root in one tooth and fractured the second, leaving her needing numerous visits to a trauma dentist.

Gillespie, 30, of Unity Street South, Bingley, had been out drinking when he visited the woman’s flat at 10pm because his partner was there, the court was told.

He got into an argument with two women present at the address before headbutting one of them in the face. She screamed that he had knocked her front teeth out.

He left the flat and went on to tell the police he had acted in self-defence.

He was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and pleaded guilty on the day of his trial.

The court heard that the victim had lost both her front teeth and it would cost around £4,000 to have private dental implants if she couldn’t get the work done by the NHS.

In her victim personal statement she spoke of loving to cook but having to make soft food afterwards. She had lost her self-confidence and now spent most of her time at home.

Gillespie had two previous convictions for battery but nothing for ten years.

His barrister, Jess Butterell, urged the court to suspend the prison sentence.

“This was a grapple followed by a single blow and he then left the scene,” she said.

Gillespie was a hardworking man supporting his partner and their two young children.

Character references spoke very highly of him as a family man and a trustworthy employee.

The probation service said he was at a low risk of reoffending.

Judge Colin Burn said: “This was a single violent blow by your head against her face, hitting her in the mouth and causing the sort of damage that means she has to have all sorts of reconstructive dental surgery.”

Gillespie had been drinking before the assault.

“It was unpleasant violence and caused a psychologically damaging injury,” Judge Burn said.

Gillespie was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Burn said the victim faced a bill of up to £4,000 to repair her ‘shattered teeth’ if she couldn’t have the work done on the NHS.

He ordered Gillespie to pay her £1,500 compensation at £80 a month.