A MAN who assaulted his girlfriend by hitting her on the head with a plate and biting her face avoided prison yesterday.

David Wilson, 29, of Grinkle Road, Redcar, admitted assaulting his former partner last September, when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court.

The court heard that Wilson attacked the woman after she made a comment about the way he was eating a meal.

He then hit her on the side of the head with his plate, held her down and bit her face and jaw. He than tried to prevent her from leaving the flat, the court was told.

She then grabbed a kitchen knife and threatened him with it before escaping.

The court heard he assaulted the same woman later that month, for which he received a 12-month conditional discharge.

Jamie Hill, defending, said his client had a low IQ.

He said the pair both had alcohol problems and had difficulty expressing themselves.

Mr Hill said Wilson had now given up alcohol and was living with his parents.

Judge David Wood sentenced Wilson to a two-year community rehabilitation order with a condition that he live where the probation service told him to.

He said it was a vicious and nasty attack and was the kind of offence which would normally lead to a prison sentence, but he took into account Wilson's personal difficulties.