A ’peculiarly savage’ eye gouging attacker who partially blinded his girlfriend’s mother at a family birthday party has been jailed for 12 years.

Dale Norman, from Teignmouth, lost his temper after 58 year-old victim Teresa Graham told him he was weird. He said:"Weird? I’ll show you f***ing weird’ and thrust his thumbs into both her eyes.

She heard her left eyeball pop and saw what looked like confetti as he severed the nerve. She suffered a serious injury to her right eye but has retained some sight in it.

Norman was jailed at Exeter Crown Court after a judge was read a victim impact statement telling how the injuries have wrecked her life.

She can no longer work as a carer, go out on her own, do her own housework or even put on make up to hide the scars from the attack.

She thought she was going to die during the prolonged attack in which he pinned her to the floor and carried on gouging her eyes as other members of the family tried to drag him off.

Norman, aged 40, of Barn Park Terrace, Teignmouth, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was jailed for 12 years with a three year extended licence by Judge David Evans at Exeter Crown Court.

He told him:"You are a dangerous man. This was a peculiarly savage and chillingly purposeful attack. There can only be one intention. You clearly intended to put out both of her eyes.

"It is a matter of fortune that you only caused such damage to one eye. Your intention was to cause even more harm than the dreadful injuries that you caused.

"Mrs Graham’s victim impact statement makes very sad reading. Her self esteem has been ruined and there are some days when she simply does not want to get out of bed. Your attack has transformed her life for the worse.

"Clearly, all those who were there will bear the awful memory forever. I am entirely satisfied you pose a significant risk."

The judge said Norman’s offence was made worse by a lifelong history of violence, including attacks on three previous partners including another eye gouging attack.

Mr William Hunter, prosecuting, said Norman was the partner of Mrs Graham’s daughter Candice Ferris and they were both at a birthday party in Torquay to celebrate her uncle’s 60th birthday.

Norman had been drinking heavily before he started behaving erratically and Mrs Graham stepped in to stop him attacking Candice. She told him he was weird and he responded by saying ’Weird, I’ll show you weird’ and launching the attack.

He carried on gouging both her eyes while pinning her to the floor despite her screaming in pain and others trying to drag him off. Part of her left iris was later found on the floor.

She suffered total blindness to her left eye and two fractures of the socket. Her right eye was badly scratched and she was temporarily blinded. She still suffers very seriously impaired vision and is still being treated.

Mr Hunter said that during the attack she felt her left eyeball pop and the last thing she saw was what looked like confetti.

Norman only stopped when one of the family found a pickaxe handle and he then snatched a mobile phone to stop anyone calling for help and fled. He told police he had nothing to do with the attack and had left the party before it happened.

Miss Heather Hope, defending, said Norman had been affected by witnessing domestic violence as a child and had a history of abusing drugs and alcohol.

He was in a highly emotional state on the night because it was the first anniversary of the death of his mother. He is now an enhanced prisoner which allows him more privileges inside and has become a Buddhist in the hope of achieving mindfulness.