Chesterfield man jailed for strangling and biting his girlfriend in “extraordinary” attack

Daniel Newark, 30, had been drinking for eight hours when he “suddenly jumped up” and took his partner by the neck.

Derby Crown Court heard how Newark’s girlfriend then felt a “sharp pain” to her face.

Prosecutor Lucky Thandi described how the terrified woman “realised the defendant was biting the right side of her face”.

The woman was left with a “severely swollen” cheek and needed hospital treatment including antibiotics and a tetanus jab.

Ms Thandi told the court how the March 24 assault erupted at about 11pm at Newton’s flat after the pair had been drinking since 3pm.

She managed to flee after pushing him off - running to a friend’s house for help.

However the court heard Newton ran after her - shouting he “loved her” - and was arrested a short time later.

Prosecutor Ms Thandi said Newark had 15 previous convictions for 20 offences - including actual bodily harm.

The latest assault came after police arrested him in possession of a “sizeable” kitchen knife - which he claimed he used to “self-harm”.

Newark, of St Augustines Crescent, Chesterfield, admitted assault with actual bodily harm and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

His barrister Raglan Ashton told the court how Newark - who committed the appalling assault “against the context of constant excessive alcohol” - had since been engaging with an alcohol worker.

However, jailing Newark for 12 months, Recorder Adrian Reynolds told him: “I accept that you have taken steps to control your alcohol overall.

“But it's not your behaviour while sober that concerns me - it’s your behaviour when drunk.

“Biting her to her face was an absolutely extraordinary thing to do.”

The judge said Newton’s girlfriend - who had refused to support Newton’s prosecution - was “clearly” going to “come back into your life”.

He said: “I’m extremely concerned there’s a risk to her if you start drinking again.

“I cannot stop that happening and it gives me no confidence that a non-custodial sentence will achieve anything constructive.”

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