A YOUNG mother was scarred for life after her partner hurled her against a fireplace and left her needing 30 stitches in head wounds.

Chay Saunders had been drinking with the woman at her home in Teignmouth before they got into a heated argument.

She tried to get away from him into the kitchen where a friend and two children were standing but Saunders dragged her back into the lounge.

He pulled her so violently that she was fell heavily into the brick fireplace and suffered deep gashes to her face which were assessed as life changing because the scarring is permanent.

Saunders, aged 31, formerly of Teignmouth, but now living with his mother in Newton Abbot, admitted wounding.

He was jailed for nine months, suspended for two years, sent on a ‘Building Better Relationships’ course, put on a tag-monitored 90 day alcohol abstinence programme and ordered to pay £250 costs.

Judge David Evans also made a restraining order at Exeter Crown Court which restricts any further contact with the victim for two years.

He told him: ‘Your reckless actions caused her serious injury. It was an appalling wound to her face, a shocking laceration. She needed in excess of 30 stitches all over her head.

‘It has left her with a permanent disfigurement.

‘Scarring, particularly on the face, is an awful thing for her to have to live with for the rest of her life and for her children to see for the rest of their lives, knowing you were responsible.’

Mr Tom Bradnock, prosecuting, said Saunders had been in a relationship with the victim and they had two children but argued on the night of October 26 last year because he wanted to go out drinking.

The argument took place in the lounge of her home in her home in French Street, Teignmouth, and she fell against the brick fireplace after he pulled her back as she was walking into the kitchen.

She suffered deep cuts to her face including one which was 15cm long and needed a scan to check she there was no brain injury. The injuries were assessed by medical staff as life-changing.

Mr Paul Dentith, defending, said Saunders had not intended the injury and had been apologetic from the outset.

He has written a letter in which he said: ‘I think about what happened every day. I want to do everything I can to make sure the children have a bright and healthy future.’

Mr Dentith said Saunders has been assessed as a good prospect for rehabilitation and plans to start work as a dry liner shortly. He is currently looking after his elderly mother.