Jail threat for Tracy Davies in tongue bite case

Mar 11 2009 by Garry Willey, The Journal

A WOMAN is facing jail for biting off a chunk of her lover’s tongue after asking for a “passionate kiss”.

Tracy Davies, 40, had denied chewing off a large chunk of Mark Coghill’s tongue. A Newcastle Crown Court jury cleared her of inflicting the horrific injury with intent.

But they found her guilty of causing grievous bodily harm in the nightmare assault last October.

And although Judge John Evans adjourned for a probation officer to prepare a report, he warned prison would be the only outcome.

He said: “The jury has convicted you of grievous bodily harm and that is an offence, not withstanding your limited criminal history, calls for a custodial sentence.

“The length of that sentence however is something a judge may appropriately decide when information about your history is available to the courts.”

Davies, from Sunderland Road, Gateshead, showed no emotion as the jury returned their verdicts after almost five hours’ deliberation.

She was further remanded on bail until the sentencing hearing scheduled for March 31.

Judge Evans said: “It is on the firm understanding she appreciates this is a case which inevitably will involve a custodial sentence.”

Davies, originally from Kent, had met Mr Coghill through a dating advert about three months before the barbaric assault.

The couple were preparing to celebrate his 45th birthday drinking vodka at his Jesmond flat.

But Davies – an alcoholic who had fallen back off the wagon – became upset soon after wrapping Mr Coghill’s birthday gift.

He comforted and cuddled her before she asked him for a smooch.

And moments later, she suddenly bit down hard on his tongue – severing at least a third then spitting it on to the floor.

The chunk was later given to police but doctors at Newcastle General Hospital decided the risk of infection was too great to try to stitch it back, the court heard.

Mr Coghill, left maimed and with damaged taste buds, told the court Davies was upset because she was not pregnant. And he relived the moment their kiss had turned into a nightmare.

He said: “That’s when she turned into a monster. She was nice and beautiful and passive and then within seconds she turned into the likes of Mike Tyson. “My immediate reaction was ‘I’m having some kind of nightmare’.” He collapsed, bleeding heavily, on to a mattress, only coming round more than an hour later when Davies bit his elbow.