Seven men have been dealt with in court for violent attacks in which they bit their victims, leaving some with permanent disfigurement. The cases span Gateshead, County Durham, Newcastle and Northumberland, and include an assault on a pregnant woman by her former partner Kieran Walton, who had gone to her home after being released from prison for assaulting her.
Craig Hewitt
Former soldier Craig Hewitt, who bit the ears of two strangers and left one of them disfigured for life, has been locked up. Hewitt was already on court bail for a wounding with intent on a garage forecourt when he carried out an even more serious attack at a social club during a game of "killer" pool.
The first attack happened just after midnight on September 13 2022, when Hewitt attacked another customer at a BP Garage in Lobley Hill, Gateshead. He bit the victim's finger with significant force and held on for 10 to 15 seconds, then bit the victim's ear for two to three seconds. At the Thomas Wilson Social Club, in Lobley Hill, he bit part of another man's ear off.
Hewitt has 15 previous convictions, including violence in 1996 which saw him dismissed from the army. He was found guilty of two counts of wounding with intent and, for that and breaching a suspended prison sentence, was jailed for eight years and eight months.
Richard Naylor
Military veteran Richard Naylor, who bit off part of a man's lower lip, walked free from court with a suspended sentence. The victim had been to a pub in Sunderland on May 5, and CCTV shows him leaving around 5.25pm at the same time as Naylor and his friend.
Naylor squared up to him and punches were thrown by both, with the victim ending up on the ground. Naylor then straddled him. Ian Cook, prosecuting, said: "It must be at this point he bit him on the lower lip, causing part of that lower lip to be removed."
In a victim impact statement, the man said he had been left permanently disfigured and could only open his mouth 25% of what he could previously. He added that he couldn't understand how someone could bite his lip off.
When questioned by police, Naylor said he was acting in self-defence, saying he had been out for a drink with an old army friend and the victim had accused them of being police officers and would not leave them alone. Naylor, who has four previous convictions, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent. The 47-year-old, of Regent Court, South Hetton, County Durham, was sentenced to two years four months suspended for two years with 250 hours unpaid work.
Daryl McBurnie
Ex-Army serviceman Daryl McBurnie bit his partner and held a knife to her throat during a violent and controlling relationship. He subjected his then-partner to assaults and isolation during their five-year relationship and left her requiring medication.
In one attack, the 28-year-old bit the woman several times and left her with visible injuries. During another incident a month later, McBurnie bit her again and held a knife to her throat in her County Durham home.
The court heard the relationship ran between 2020 and 2025 and was marred by domestic violence. In January, McBurnie appeared at Durham Crown Court to be sentenced for coercive or controlling behaviour and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, having pleaded guilty. McBurnie, of Allenby Barracks, Bovington, had four previous convictions for seven offences, all for motoring offences, and was jailed for 27 months.
Michael Burden
A man told his terrified partner "I'm going to bite your face off" during a violent attack. Michael Burden assaulted his then-partner and smashed up her belongings during the 10-month relationship.
The 47-year-old bit the woman's face and pulled a chunk of her hair out during an assault in her County Durham home, which only ended when he was struck over the head with a wooden bat. Burden later went on to breach a restraining order imposed to protect the victim.
The court heard the relationship had been "not great". On November 8 2024, Burden smashed the front of a set of drawers belonging to the woman after accusing her of cheating, with the argument having started after Burden upset her by "wanting cocaine".
Burden appeared at Durham Crown Court, via link from HMP Holme House, to be sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, three counts of criminal damage, and breaching a restraining order. He pleaded guilty and was jailed for five months, with a five-year restraining order imposed.
Andrew Charleston
A violent bully battered his ex with a rolling pin, bit her and pulled clumps of hair out during a vicious 40-minute attack in her home. Andrew Charleston, who had a habit of becoming abusive when fuelled by caffeine-laced alcohol, left the woman injured and living in fear.
Mairi Clancy, prosecuting, told the court: "He grabbed her arm with an incredibly firm grip and punched her with a closed fist. He struck her a number of times in the face and arms. He took hold of her hair, causing clumps to be ripped out of her scalp and fall to the floor. He dragged her to the floor by her hair and she landed on her back with some force."
Newcastle Crown Court heard the woman had previously been in a relationship with Charleston for around two years, ending in June last year. Charleston, 29, of Scarborough Road, Walker, Newcastle, has 71 previous convictions, mainly for theft and dishonesty, and had been released from prison on post-licence supervision at the time. He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was jailed for 18 months, with a five-year restraining order.
Derrick Heron
A dangerous drink driver left a 75-year-old woman injured by crashing into her car, then attacked a Good Samaritan who stopped him fleeing the scene. After downing vodka, Derrick Heron was spotted driving a BMW around his own estate in an irate and aggressive fashion, shouting threats at various people and appearing out of control.
While three times the drink-drive limit, he smashed into the back of a pensioner's car on Stamfordham Road, Newcastle, leaving her in "excruciating pain" and her car a write-off. When a motorist who stopped to help tried to prevent Heron leaving, Heron punched him, tried to gouge his eyes, headbutted him and bit him.
Heron, latterly of Church Street, Berwick, has 19 previous convictions. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a public order offence, and was jailed for 30 months.
Kieran Walton
A pregnant woman was strangled and bitten by her jealous former partner Kieran Walton in a shocking attack. Walton had served time in prison last year for assaulting the woman but went to her home to try to rekindle their relationship.
An argument blew up after he accused her of seeing other men while he was locked up. After taunting, sneering at and demeaning her, he became physically violent when she told him she had been recording his verbal abuse. After pushing her over a sofa, he sank his teeth into her back, leaving bite marks, struck her to the face and grabbed her by the throat, restricting her breathing.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Walton, who had previously been in a relationship with the victim for around 18 months, went to her Newcastle home on January 18 this year. Walton, 35, of no fixed address, has 20 previous convictions and was jailed for seven weeks last October for assaulting the same woman. He admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation, and was jailed for 21 months.
