A MAN who bit off part of his partner’s ear in a drunken and drug-fuelled row was jailed for nine years.

Durham Crown Court heard that the last thing the victim can recall before coming round later in hospital was of being in great pain, seeing defendant Blain Bowery holding the severed part of her ear lobe.

But it was only in his later police interview that he told an officer: “You’d better have a look in my coat pocket.”

Sam Faulks, prosecuting, said bitten-off ear piece was found in the coat lining.

Mr Faulks said the incident, at their home in High Street South, Langley Moor, near Durham, in the early hours of January 2, was the second assault on the woman in two days.

Bowery previously threw a large torch at her, striking her on the eye brow, before again biting her face, causing injury to her cheek and lip., late on December 30.

The victim required stitches at hospital, following that incident.

But after Bowery was released by police and woman left hospital following treatment, they resumed drinking and drug-taking, prior to the second incident.

Mr Faulks said the victim had been uncooperative with police after the initial attack.

When police attended the house following the second incident, an officer described seeing both parties covered in blood, heavily intoxicated, staggering round with slurred speech.

Mr Faulks said the officer also described seeing large empty bottles of cider strewn around.

The woman told police that the second incident began as both were sitting at home on the sofa when a row broke out, but she could not recall exactly what sparked the attack.

She was left waiting to see if surgery could repair her injured ear.

Mr Faulks said the attack appeared to have been the culmination of an increasingly volatile relationship made worse by the consumption of drink on both parts.

Bowery was said to have had particular difficulties with drink and drugs after losing his job as a tree surgeon.

The 23-year-old admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Jennifer Coxon, mitigating, said as “horrendous” an incident it must have been for the victim, Bowery did make the emergency call, and in the chaos of the incident had forgotten he had the picked up the piece of severed ear until he was at the police station.

Jailing him, Judge Christopher Prince said the victim was, “particularly vulnerable” being alone in the house, subject to Bowery’s violent, drunken outbursts.