A MAN who subjected his girlfriend to six months of violence was jailed for three-and-half years yesterday.

Karl Wilson, 29, left Leigh Pittock bleeding and battered after repeated attacks between October 4 last year and March this year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how, on one occasion, Wilson punched Miss Pittock in the head in a relentless attack while two of his friends stood by and watched.

The court heard he left Miss Pittock with a split eye because Wilson, a schizophrenic, believed she was hiding a device in her head which was sending information to the police.

In another assault, committed while Miss Pittock was taking a bath, Wilson burst in and held her head under the water.

And in a separate incident, he bit Miss Pittock's face as she lay on a sofa.

Wilson, of West Park Road, South Shields, South Tyneside, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and two offences of assault causing actual bodily harm.

He also admitted a burglary when he and another man raided the house of a disabled and partially blind victim, stealing his television, video, jacket and two model cars.

Carl Gumsley, defending, said Wilson and his partner had significant mental health problems and that when Wilson didn't take his medication, it resulted in violence.

Mr Gumsley said that, despite the attacks, Miss Pittock was trying restart their relationship after giving birth to Wilson's child.

Wilson was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the burglary and a futher two-and-a-half years for the attacks on Miss Pittock.