A MAN who bit off his former partner's fingertip has been warned to expect a lengthy jail term.

Simon Ndeithi sank his teeth into the mum's digit as they argued at the home they shared in Covingham.

The 38-year-old had been due to stand trial at Swindon Crown Court after pleading not guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

But after a judge told him he would not receive more than five years in prison he admitted the offence.

George Threlfall, prosecuting, said Ndeithi had been in a relationship with his victim for about four years.

While they separated, and were no longer a couple, they continued to live together for seven years.

On Wednesday, October 5, last year he said the defendant bit the tip clean off her right index finger during a fight, which he claims she started.

Mr Threlfall said the force required to sever the digit was such it was inconceivable he could not have intended to cause her serious harm.

However he said it was accepted that it was not a premeditated incident and that the intent could have been formed when the finger was in his mouth.

He said that the victim had initially refused to co-operate with the prosecution and was reluctant to attend court.

But by the date of trial he said she had provided a formal statement and was ready to give evidence, should she need to.

And he said that she also hoped a restraining order could be imposed to ban him from contacting her in the future.

Ndeithi, of Elver Close, Covingham, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

An earlier hearing was told that he had assaulted the same woman in 2008 and was put on a conditional discharge.

On that occasion he pinned her against the a wall causing marks to her face and neck.

Remanding him in custody Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "You have pleaded guilty to a very serious matter. You will come back on April 11.

"The only reason for the adjournment is for a pre-sentence report to be prepared to assist me to the length of the inevitable sentence."

Mr Threlfall added that despite the tip of the finger being severed at the base of the nail it had grown back in the past five months.

He said that not only had the finger regrown but she also had a new nail and although the skin was slightly lighter there was little cosmetic damage.