Tongue biting attacker gets life

Andrew Humphris left his victim "in agony"

A sex attacker who bit off a woman's tongue was jailed for life on Tuesday.

Andrew Humphris, 36, of St Paul's Tower, Leyton, London, was convicted of sexual assaults in Blackpool, Lancashire, and Knutsford, Cheshire.

At Preston Crown Court he was also convicted of wounding and dangerous driving but was cleared of attempted wounding and kidnap.

Judge Robert Brown said Humphris was "very dangerous" and recommended he serve at least five and a half years.

The jury heard the tongue bite victim was a prostitute in Blackpool who was left in agony by Humphris.

Richard Haworth, prosecuting, told the jury: "He grabbed her and pulled her face towards his and he put his fingers in her mouth trying to force her mouth open.

She described him as almost like an animal Richard Haworth Prosecuting

"He grabbed her by the throat and tried to throttle her. He held her by the throat and demanded she put her tongue out of her mouth. He shouted 'give me a tongue'.

"She was terrified. She described him as almost like an animal. He proceeded then to bite her tongue with such ferocity that he bit off a large part of her tongue completely."

As she staggered away bleeding heavily, Humphris yelled "dirty little bitch".

'Easy prey'

Earlier in the night, he had carried out a violent sexual attack on another woman in her own car, and after the tongue biting attack, he chased a third woman who was driving to work and rammed her car as he tried to force her to stop.

Mr Haworth added: "He selected victims during that short period of time in their varying ways who are vulnerable and susceptible to his targeting. In short, they were easy prey."

It was also told he had a history of sexual assaults dating back to 1989.

In one case he attacked a 17-year-old girl while another involved a prostitute who he threatened with a kitchen knife.

Humphris was given an automatic life sentence because of his previous record.