A NEWPORT man was given a suspended sentence after admitting biting the nose and fingers of a woman who had fought with his mother.

Leighton Pearce, 21, of Chelmer Walk, Bettws, appeared in Newport Crown Court on Wednesday for sentence having previously pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and damaging property.

Prosecutor John Warren told the court Pearce and his mother went to the house of Nicola Jones in Bighams Row, Pontypool, for a party on October 24, 2009.

During the party, Pearce left the house with Ms Jones to go and pick up another friend, the court heard. Mr Warren said when they returned to the house, Pearce punched the windscreen of Ms Jones' car causing it to shatter.

The court was told an altercation broke out inside the house between Ms Jones and Pearce's mother and Pearce intervened. He punched Ms Jones and bit her nose.

Ms Jones put her fingers in his mouth to get him off, but Pearce bit her fingers as well.

Mr Warren said Pearce and his mother left the house and when the police arrived they found Ms Jones in a "heavily intoxicated condition."

Ms Jones was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, where she received treatment for her wounds and a hepatitis immunisation vaccination.

In a victim impact statement, Ms Jones said she had experienced numbness and pins and needles in her hand and had been off sick for four months following the incident.

Representing Pearce, Andrew Taylor said Pearce was remorseful and the incident happened in the heat of the moment.

Judge David Morris said: "This was a disgraceful episode viewed from any standpoint. Any man who assaults a woman is nothing more than a coward and a bully."

Pearce was given a 50 week sentence suspended for two years, made the subject of a two year supervision order and ordered to carry out 185 hours unpaid work.