A WOMAN ended up in hospital after her boyfriend sank his teeth into her arm and punched her leaving her with a black eye and a suspected broken rib.

Jamie Kent, 21, had 16 previous convictions for offences including an attack against a police officer and other assaults, a court heard yesterday [August 1].

He punched his 22-year-old girlfriend Danielle Jones in the face, back and ribs saying she had acted "funny", Newport Crown Court heard.

The force of the bite was so strong it "took her breath away", the court heard.

She still had a teeth imprint on her right forearm when she attended Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport three days later, the court was told.

Kent, of Beaufort Road, Newport, turned up at the hospital but security escorted him out after he refused to leave, said John Warren, prosecuting.

A police officer attended the hospital and found that Miss Jones was "very much in pain and afraid of her partner", Mr Warren said.

The court also heard she had attended the hospital with a "possible broken rib".

The couple had been together for seven years and started their relationship when she was around 15, the court was told.

The Probation Service felt a community based sentence would not be suitable at this point.

But Judge Peter Heywood said Kent had had "a very difficult upbringing and traumatic childhood" and was minded to impose a suspended custodial sentence.

Judge Heywood said it would be a matter entirely for him if he grabbed the opportunity he planned to give the defendant "with both hands".

Kent pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm against Miss Jones on April 6.

Defence barrister, Gareth Williams, said his client was now in a "much better place", was taking medication and felt the best he had been in a long time.

Judge Heywood remanded Kent in custody to be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on August 15.