A 22-year-old Northern Territory man who bit his ex-wife's ear off and blinded her in one eye has been sentenced in the Alice Springs Supreme Court today.

Selwyn Katakarintja was in breach of a domestic violence order when he went to the White Gate Camp in Alice Springs in January.

He bit part of his wife's ear off, exposing the cartilage and punched her so hard her eyeball ruptured.

The court heard the assault came after she rejected his suggestion they should get back together.

He pleaded guilty to causing serious harm.

Justice John Mansfield described it as "a cowardly and stupid attack" and told Katakarintja he had to pay the price for such a devastating injury.

He convicted Katakarintja and sentenced him to three years and three months' jail, suspended after eighteen months.