Lover who snapped spared jail

A woman who bit a hole in her boyfriend's scrotum during a row has been spared jail.

Maria Topp, 44, from Wrekenton, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm at Newcastle Crown Court.

Recorder Robin Mairs said: "This relationship is over, I think both of you accept that."

Ms Topp attacked her partner of five years, Martin Douglas, after they had been drinking in a "sustained" fashion for 10 hours in February.

The judge handed her a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered her to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. He also imposed a restraining order on the mother-of-four to prevent her from contacting Mr Douglas.

The couple had a "turbulent relationship", said Gavin Doig, prosecuting. Officers were called shortly after 4am on February 18 and found Mr Douglas wearing a towel.

Mr Doig said: "The most serious injury was obvious to the police when Mr Douglas pulled aside the towel he was wearing."

The Crown added: "There came a point in time when the complainant and defendant were on the floor and this defendant sank her teeth into the complainant's scrotum and ripped his scrotum, causing serious injury, and Mr Douglas says he felt immediate and extreme pain."

He was taken to hospital and given pain relief.

Mr Douglas, who is a DJ, has made a full physical recovery but still has mental scars.