MAN JAILED FOR 53 MONTHS AFTER CHARGING AT HIS PARTNER WITH A HAMMER, PUNCHING AND BITING HER
Edward Potts, aged 45, reacted violently after wrongly suspecting his partner of infidelity.The incident began when the fisherman, in a fit of rage, charged at the woman wielding a hammer.
He then threw the weapon aside and struck her with a powerful punch that caused her to fall to the ground.
According to prosecutor Austin Newman, Potts then climbed on top of the terrified victim, pinned her down, and bit her ear.
She sustained injuries that included part of her outer ear and earlobe being torn off, leading to heavy bleeding.
Newman added that Potts spat blood in her face while she was in pain.
Police arrived at the Whitby residence where Potts was shouting and cursing at officers attempting to arrest him.
He faced charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent but initially denied causing the injuries.
Instead, he claimed an unknown man was responsible.
Eventually, in court, he admitted to the attack and an offence related to public disorder after initially denying both GBH and threatening behaviour.
Potts, who lives on The Ropery in Whitby, appeared via video link for sentencing following his remand in custody.
Newman explained that the fisherman, who also works in the local lobster industry, had paranoid delusions, suspecting his partner was unfaithful, which triggered the assault on October 24 last year.
The couple had been out with friends at a local pub when Potts became aggressive, initiating an argument and poking his partner's face, which made her upset.
He then left the pub abruptly without explanation.
On their journey home, the woman received a call from Potts, during which he verbally attacked her.
Once home, she stayed outside while a friend went inside to check on Potts’ whereabouts, Newman said.
Suddenly, Potts appeared angry and agitated, running toward her while wielding a raised hammer and yelling.
He then threw the hammer aside and punched her in the mouth with great force, knocking her to the ground.
Potts then pinned her down and bit her right ear so savagely that part of her outer ear and lobe was torn away.
She bled heavily and cried out in pain.
An ambulance and police were called by a friend, and Potts was taken into custody.
The victim faces potential surgery to repair her injuries, which may leave scars, though it’s uncertain whether she has sustained any permanent damage.
Despite the attack's brutality, she forgave Potts and wished to reconcile.
They had been together for 26 years and had no history of violence until recently.
In the weeks before the incident, Potts, suffering from intermittent paranoia and missing his medication, was described as mentally unwell.
He had a criminal record with six prior convictions, involving violence, racially motivated threats, and public disorder.
The assault on his partner occurred just weeks after he was sentenced to a 12-month community order for a previous assault.
Defense lawyer Stephen Grattage stated that Potts’s shocking conduct was uncharacteristic.
He explained that, suffering from paranoid delusions, Potts believed his partner intended to leave him and was deeply remorseful for his actions.
Judge Andrew Stubbs QC told Potts: “You lost control of yourself.
You created in your own mind a dispute and suspicions about your partner.
You tore off a considerable part of her outer ear and her ear lobe.” The judge sentenced him to four years and five months in prison, emphasising that a lengthy sentence was necessary given the violent nature of the attack.
