Former PC has chunk of chin bitten off in drunken row with ex-lover

Michael Pattinson, 41, plagued by nightmares after late-night attack

'I have flashing images of Tracey with my blood around her mouth'

Police officer-turned-taxi driver needed plastic surgery on wound



She walks free from court after judge takes pity on fami ly heartache s

A former police officer was left needing plastic surgery after having a chunk of his chin bitten off by an ex-lover.



Mother-of-two Tracey Pattison, 38, ripped a chunk of flesh the size of a plum from Michael Pattinson’s face as they struggled on the floor during a drunken late-night row.

Mr Pattinson, 41, says he now has vivid nightmares about being savaged by packs of wild animals and flashbacks of her mouth covered in blood.

WARNING: Graphic content below



'Stuff of horror movies': Former police officer Michael Pattinson recovers in hospital (left) and weeks later showing the scars following plastic surgery (right) after having his chin bitten off by his ex-lover



But Pattison walked free from Teesside Crown Court with a suspended prison sentence after admitting a charge of unlawful wounding.

Judge Les Spittle told her most people would have expected her to be locked up, but he described that view as ‘over-simplistic’ in Pattison’s case.

The court heard how the couple met through the internet and their on-off relationship had been blighted by arguments sparked by family heartaches.

Ripped off chunk of flesh: Tracey Pattison was handed a suspended prison sentence after admitting a charge of unlawful wounding

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said a baby being stillborn in 2010 and a relative of Mr Pattinson being diagnosed with cancer had caused tension.

The couple arranged to meet on August 16 last year after a three-week break, and Pattison travelled to her partner’s home to see him.

Mr Pattinson says he asked her to leave following an argument, but she started to punch him and he grabbed her by the top of the arms to restrain her.

They struggled and fell to the floor, and as Mr Pattison lay there, he felt what he thought was a head-butt to the chin – until he saw the blood.

In an impact statement, Mr Pattinson said: ‘I thought I knew her. I didn’t see it coming.

‘I feel as though there is a horrible dark cloud over my life.

Plum-sized wound: Mr Pattinson says he now suffers nightmares about being savaged by a pack of animals

‘I have had wild nightmares of being savaged by animals. I have flashing images of Tracey with my blood around her mouth. It’s the stuff of horror movies.’

Mr Pattison, who was an officer with the West Midlands and Durham forces and now works as a taxi driver, added: ‘I have no confidence in any relationships.

‘I cannot believe the whole situation has ended in me being scarred for life. There is no happy ending I can see. The whole thing freaks me out.’

Pattison, of Mayfield Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne, had denied wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but admitted the lesser offence at an earlier hearing.

She pleaded guilty on the basis that she perceived she needed to defend herself, but accepts what she did was beyond reasonable.