AN attacker who disfigured his girlfriend’s face during a sickening assault has walked free from court.
Dale Lewis, of Darwin Street, Southwick, fractured her eye socket and jaw and caused bruising with repeated blows.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the 26-year-old victim’s daughter was too scared to look at her because of the injuries she suffered in the attack in January.
Prosecutor Bridie Smurthwaite told the court Lewis, 30, had drunk eight cans of lager and half a bottle of vodka while his victim was on a night out.
The violence flared during a row when she got back.
Miss Smurthwaite said: “She was punched to the back of the head and repeatedly punched in the face.
“On the complainant’s account, she would say, and maintains, she was kicked in the back and kneed in the face.
“She was punched on the nose, and the blow was so hard, she passed out and fell to the floor.”
The victim suffered a fractured nose and eye socket, bruising around her left eye, bruising and tenderness over her cheekbones and a sore nose which had deviated to the right. She also had a bruise to her arm and swelling behind her ear.
Miss Smurthwaite said: “Her daughter was too scared to look at her that morning because of her face.”
The court heard that the couple’s 10-year relationship was brought to an end by the attack.
Judge James Goss QC told Lewis: “It was a cowardly, disgraceful attack.”
He sentenced Lewis to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with supervision and programme requirements to address issues of domestic violence, drinking and temper control.
The judge said the sentence could be suspended as Lewis has spent time in custody on remand for the attack, so he could be given the chance of rehabilitation to avoid further offending.
Amanda Rippon, defending, said: “He accepts it was a dreadful offence. He accepts it was disgusting behaviour.”
Lewis had admitted causing grievous bodily harm.