Woman who admits biting off boyfriend's testicles could face five years in jail



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 4am at his flat in February.



Drunken brawl: Maria Topp arrives at Newcastle Crown Court, carrying a bag which has handcuff links as a strap, where she pleaded guilty to biting off her boyfriend's testicles during a row

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.'



Mr Douglas needed emergency surgery to re-attach his genitals after the attack, which Topp remembers little about.



The 45-year-old DJ had called 999 in excruciating pain from his Newcastle home to report his plight after the assault .

Operators had struggled to understand what he was saying due to his condition during the call.



Topp had been due to be tried by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court on a charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.



Before a jury was sworn in the case Topp pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm, which carries a maximum penalty of five years behind bars, and was accepted by prosecutors.

Gavin Doig, prosecuting, told the Crown Prosecution Service that the police officer in charge of the case and in particular the victim had been consulted before the lesser plea was accepted.



Emergency surgery: Mr Douglas was rushed to Newcastle's Freeman hospital where surgeons operated on his testicles

Her admission of guilt meant Mr Douglas did not have to relive his ordeal from the witness box.



Mr Doig said: 'This incident arose on February 18 in which the injured party suffered a number of injuries, particularly a very serious wound to his scrotum.

'The crown's case has always been that was caused by a bite.



'Until today the defence's contention was it was caused by her hands.

'Her plea, as I understand, is on the basis she did indeed cause that injury with her teeth.

'That is an important concession as far as the crown are concerned.



'It is an aggravating feature she used her teeth.'



Caroline Goodwin, defending, told the court Topp did accept the injury was caused by a bite - though she does not remember it.

Miss Goodwin added: 'There is no issue in relation to biting. Maria Topp has actually no specific recollection of the action of biting.



'The crown do accept during the course of this there had been violence used by both parties and she too received injury.



'I say no more about it than that.'



Maria Topp pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm at Newcastle Crown Court (pictured)

Mr Recorder Robin Mairs adjourned the case until November 11 and Topp was granted conditional bail in the meantime.



The judge said: 'My view is that the two had been in a relationship for five years by the time of the offence.



'There had been difficulties and turbulence in the past which caused police to be called on a number of occasions.



'They had split up numerous times and got back together again.



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

'There was an argument, a brawl begins and during the course of that Miss Topp admits she unlawfully bit the defendant's scrotum.'



The judge warned Topp: 'I have no idea what I am going to do with you', and ordered a pre-sentence report, to go with the psychiatric report already prepared in her case.

