A BUSINESSMAN who caught his girlfriend having sex with another man bit her nose, causing permanent scarring, a court heard.

Preston Crown Court was told Lisa Dearden had to have five internal stitches and eleven external ones after she was attacked by Stuart Campbell.

Campbell, 26, of Woodville Terrace, Darwen, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing at Preston to unlawfully wounding Miss Dearden on August 22 last year. He was jailed for nine months.

Judge Philip Sycamore told him: "This was a disgraceful, terrifying incident. You subjected her to a vicious biting attack."

Julie Taylor, prosecuting, said Miss Dearden and Campbell had had a relationship for five years and had lived together for four. On August 22, they had gone out separately.

Miss Dearden had some alcohol and was affected by drink. She had gone to the home of someone called Stephen Hulme and went to bed with him. Others were in the house.

"She was in a bedroom alone with Stephen Hulme when the door burst open.

"She was engaged in sexual intercourse. The defendant came into the room and dragged the duvet off the bed," said Miss Taylor.

"The defendant jumped on her and she felt him bite her nose.

"She felt his tooth go through her skin and blood pouring from it. She screamed and the defendant stopped."

Miss Dearden sustained 3cm and 2cm-deep lacerations to her nose which had caused cartilage damage. She had scarring which was visible but not prominent.

She was a psychiatric nurse and patients commented on the scarring.

As a result of the wounding, she had lost confidence in meeting people and was scared of further attack.

Campbell told police he had found his girlfriend and Mr Hulme naked in bed and there was a 'free for all'.

During a scuffle, the bite was caused.

Ian Whitehurst, defending, said Campbell wished to apologise and was remorseful. He was not proud of his actions.

Campbell was described as a successful businessman who employed three people. He also did social work.