Darren Dixon assaulted his wife in front of their teenage daughter, who ran shocked and screaming from their home
A former soldier who bit off the end of his wife’s finger has avoided prison.
Darren Brian Dixon, 36, sank his teeth into his spouse’s left forefinger as she pointed at him during a domestic argument.
He claimed the attack happened “by accident” as her finger brushed across his teeth, Teesside Crown Court was told.
His guilty plea and the lack of previous violence on his record saved him from prison this week.
He held his arms aloft as he left the courtroom and said: “Free.”
Dixon assaulted his wife in front of their teenage daughter, who ran shocked and screaming from the Stockton home.
They’d come home from a hospital visit, while Dixon was out drinking.
The violence erupted as Dixon shouted and swore at the teenager.
His wife of 11 years told him to be quiet and pointed her left index finger.
Prosecutor Harry Hadfield said: “His response was to lean forward and take her finger in his mouth and bite down on the end of the finger, to the region beyond or on the first joint.
“The force was such that he bit the end of her finger off. She saw the blood spurting from the end of her finger.”
When he was told what he’d done, he denied it then said “oh **** I have” and spat the end of the finger into his hand.
It could not be reconnected at hospital, and more of her finger had to be amputated in operations and treatment.
The left-handed victim lost fine control in her dominant hand, could not grip properly and felt cold and shooting pains.
The attack happened on January 12, 2012.
Mrs Dixon said she did not report it at the time due to her parents’ illness.
She said she found the strength and courage to make a complaint to the police last October, after ending the relationship.
She said he had subjected her to previous abuse, which Dixon denied.
Dixon, of Kingston Road, St Ann's Hill, Stockton, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm, which carries a maximum sentence of five years - his first violent offence.
Peter Wishlade, defending, suggested it happened “by accident” as his wife angrily waved her finger.
When the Crown challenged this claim, he added: “We are not saying it was an accident. What I’m saying is he didn’t anticipate the injury.
“He accepts entirely that what he did was inappropriate. He was utterly and totally devastated and remorseful. He is ashamed of what he did.”
Dixon was previously discharged from the Army on medical grounds after a head injury in an accident at Catterick Garrison, which “devastated his life” causing epilepsy.
Judge Tony Briggs said he did not accept Dixon’s account of how the “nasty” bite happened.
He said: “Quite clearly it involved some considerable pressure.
“I have to say I have found this extremely difficult. I’m conscious the injury your wife sustained was a serious one and will be with her for life.”
He passed a 21-month jail term suspended for two years with supervision, which he said would serve the public by dealing with Dixon’s drink problem, a three-month curfew and an indefinite restraining order.
He said: “Please believe and be convinced that this has been a very close run thing for you. If there is any breach of the order by you, you’ll get locked up.”
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