The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Savage thug bit partner’s finger down to the bone
WOMAN IS LEFT ‘SUICIDAL’
A SAVAGE thug bit his partner’s finger down to the bone while on bail for kicking and punching her.
Stuart Hanson and the woman had been in a “turbulent” relationship, with police call-outs on both sides.
On June 15 2022, the woman had been to a funeral and got into a row with Hanson.
Judge Tim Gittins, at Newcastle Crown Court, said: “Violence erupted between the two of you and you quickly got the upper hand. She said you kicked her to the stomach.”
Hanson also punched the victim, who was left with substantial bruising and a closed eye. Hanson was arrested and bailed with conditions not to contact her.
But then on January 8, he attacked her again in an assault that lasted some time, punching her to the floor then kneeling over her and continuing to assault her.
Judge Gittins said: “When she put her hands up trying to resist your assault, you bit down on her two fingers, causing substantial injury. You left her battered and bruised and with damage to her finger, causing a laceration to the tendon in her finger.
“You had effectively bitten down to the bone and burst the joint capsule in another finger. “She has been left with permanent restriction in movement to her hand.
“Your behaviour has left her with very real psychological damage.”
Hanson, 62, of West Hall Close, Ryhope, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and unlawful wounding and was jailed for 40 months and given a ten-year restraining order banning him from going to the woman’s home in Gateshead or contacting her.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said: “It’s massively impacted my quality of life and I suffer from depression and anxiety.
“I’ve lost my kids and my job and I’m always emotional and cry all the time.
“I feel suicidal and the injury on my finger has not healed properly and I still can’t bend my finger.”
Shaun Routledge, defending, said: “He is extremely sorry about what happened.”
I feel suicidal and the injury on my finger has not healed properly and I still can’t feel my finger
Victim statement