Brute left girlfriend's tooth 'hanging by a thread'

Joshua Blackwell and the woman were arguing over the kiss when he lost his temper and attacked her, slapping and punching her in the face.

Newcastle Crown Court heard one of her teeth was knocked out of its socket and left "hanging by a thread", two more were left loose and she needed two dental implants.

She also had a split lip, four lumps to her head, a red mark to her neck, a sore shoulder, tenderness to her back and lumps and numbness to her arm.

The victim said in an impact statement: "This incident has made wary of people and I'm more cautious.

"It's affected my physical health and I will now have two dental implants and I'm having frequent dental appointments.

"It has caused me a lot of anxiety and made my mental health issues worse."

She added: "I'm now recovering well and want all of this behind me."

The court heard the couple had been in a relationship for some time and had been living together for eight months at the time of the attack, on October 5 last year.

Prosecutor Andrew Finlay told the court: "They had been rowing over the complainant having kissed another man."

Blackwell spent October 4 away from their home but returned, by agreement, the following morning to get a mobile phone and leave a TV.

Mr Findlay said: "It was not definitive the relationship was over.

"They had an argument and the defendant lost his temper, slapping her once to the face.

"He then hit her a further three times with his fist, then a final time with a jabbing action to the mouth.

"As a result, the complainant had to attend hospital."

Blackwell, of Arnold Street, Boldon Colliery, who has previous convictions for battery from 2011 and 2017, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Judge Robert Spragg sentenced him to nine months suspended for 18 months and ordered him to pay £1,000 compensation to the victim.

The court heard Blackwell had not gone there intending to assault the woman and he had a "traumatic start to life".

Matthew Purves, defending, said: "He is incredibly regretful and is remorseful.”