A man who bit his girlfriend’s lip off defended his actions by saying he “didn’t expect it to happen”.

Scaffolder Christopher Chaloner said he had drunk ten pints of beer and downed several Jack Daniels and Cokes and Vodka Redbull before getting into a row with girlfriend Nicole Churchett.

In an interview with police read to Lewes Crown Court, Chaloner, 27, of St Helens Road, Hastings, said he bit Miss Churchett “instinctively” when she tried to hit him during an argument.

He said: "I just reacted.

"She has pulled me towards her and opened her mouth to bite and I’ve just instinctively bit. Not actually aiming to bite her lip "I don’t know how I done it. I honestly don’t know how I done it, I really don’t.

"I couldn’t believe it myself. I couldn’t do that to my worst enemy, let alone the girl I love.

"I saw part of her lip fall off. I wasn’t expecting that to happen.”

Chaloner admits wounding but denies malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The trial continues.