Father stabbed ex in the forehead in front of children

Jatty Purewal, aged 23, also bit his partner Janeeva Penn on both hands during the sustained attack at her Oldbury home. The attack came after she demanded he return a set of house keys.

Purewal told police she was lying when she informed them of the attack, claiming the marks he left on her body were down to rough sex.

The pair were childhood sweethearts, first meeting at 12 and getting together at 16, before the relationship turned sour.

Prosecutor Ian Ball told Wolverhampton Crown Court: "She has said that he was loving and caring when it first started, but that changed when they had their first child in 2012. She has had two children by him and they both live with her.

"The relationship has been troubled and she has made many complaints to the police about him. He had been going round to her house uninvited on several occasions.

"On October 5 last year, she got home from a party at her aunt's and, on opening the door, she discovered a pair of trainers. She went upstairs to find he had let himself in. He told her it was about time she came home.

"She told police that she was scared so she let him stay the night and they went to sleep.

"The next morning when they woke up, he started to complain that the house was untidy.

"He suddenly became angry and bit her on top of her left hand. She said that it was like he was some kind of cannibal and that it really hurt.

"She grabbed his face, but he carried on biting down for about 30 seconds. She punched him, but he responded by picking up his keys so she couldn't get out.

"She went to get the children, but before she could get to them he pushed the key into her face. Her son was watching from the other room. She could feel something wet running down her face. She initially thought it was tears, but touched it to find that it was actually blood dripping down her face. She said that it wasn't a deep cut, but he still stabbed her.

"She told him to get out of the house. He kept saying sorry. He threw the keys at her and left."

Defence barrister Sean Sidhu-Brar said the defendant told him the relationship between the pair had been on and off, but he still had keys to her house and there had been no issue with that.

"He claims that she found out he had been sleeping with other girls and they got into an argument. He accepts that he bit her hands and says that she told him he couldn't keep his house keys."

Purewal, of Thimble Mill Road, Smethwick, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm.

He was given a five-month suspended prison sentence and slapped with a three-year restraining order.

Judge James Burbidge told him: "It is extremely sad that you have found yourself in this position because you have known each other since your school days.

"You have two young children and it is important that they still have their dad in their life.

"But you can't do that if you behave in this way towards women, especially towards their mother," said Judge Burbidge.

"You stabbed her in front of your children and didn't admit it to police at the first opportunity."