Woman admits biting off testicles

A woman who admitted biting off her boyfriend's testicles has been warned she could be jailed.

Maria Topp, 44, from Wreckenton, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm at Newcastle Crown Court.

She bit Martin Douglas, her partner of five years, during a drunken brawl at his flat in February.

She was granted bail to be sentenced next month and Recorder Robin Mairs warned her: "All options are open and that will include locking you up."

Topp, a mother of four with a blonde bob, bit Mr Douglas's testicles off at his flat in Waterloo Street, Newcastle, during the early hours of February 18.

She cannot remember biting her partner, but can recall their fight, and the court accepted that violence had been used by both sides.

Caroline Goodwin, defending, told a previous hearing: "The defendant was on her back with the victim straddling her."

Mr Douglas was so traumatised by his injuries that emergency services staff struggled to understand him when he dialled 999. The 45-year-old DJ later required 19 stitches to his wound.

Recorder Mairs said: "The two had been in a relationship for five years by the time of this offence.

"There had been difficulties and turbulence in the past.

"They had split up numerous times, getting back together numerous times.

"On the day in question, there is no doubt they were very heavily in drink.

"There is an argument, a brawl begins during which Mrs Topp admits she unlawfully bit the complainant's scrotum."

Topp denied grievous bodily harm with intent but admitted the lesser charge on the basis that there was violence used on both sides.

Gavin Doig, prosecuting, said: "This is a plea that has been considered in detail through the course of the day by the officer in the case, the CPS and particularly the injured party Martin Douglas.

"That is a plea that the prosecution have in the past rejected but today there has been a very important change of that basis.

"The injured party suffered a number of injuries, but particularly a very serious wound to the scrotum.

"The Crown's contention has always been that was caused by a bite. Until today the defence's contention was that was caused by her hands.

"The plea is on the basis she did indeed cause that injury with her teeth."

Recorder Mairs bailed her to allow for a probation report to be prepared and she will appear before him again on November 11 for sentence.

Mr Douglas did not appear in court but had been in the building ready to give evidence.

PA