A brutal thug left a woman with a shattered eye socket in an unprovoked assault at a party celebrating his release from jail.
Christopher Lamb, aged, 34, had just been released from custody when he ended up locked up again for fracturing the woman's eye socket with a hit, as she refused to contribute to the purchase of drugs.
A court heard how Lamb had already used the fund that prisoner's are handed on release to buy drugs, Chronicle Live reports.
He then went to the home of victim Dawn Orchard to throw a celebration party.
Lamb admitted to inflicting grievous bodily harm but has now been released again on a suspended prison sentence, having served five months on remand.
Miss Orchard said in a victim statement made soon after the attack: "I'm petrified in case something like this happens again.
"I'm in a lot of pain and currently don't know if my eye will fully recover.
"It's affected my day to day life and I can't see out of it."
Lamb, 34, of Woodlea Square, North Shields, who has 113 previous convictions, including for violence and carrying a blade, was released from prison a few days before the party with Miss Orchard and other friends on June 6.
Emma Hughes, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court : "The defendant suggested getting a bag of cocaine for £20 and asked the complainant to contribute £10 but she would not do so.
"She was sitting on the sofa in the living room when, out of the blue, he punched her to the right side of her temple with force."
She got upset and told him it was uncalled for and asked why he attacked her.
Lamb replied: "You deserve it, you should have chipped in."
Miss Orchard later went to the RVI and remained there for two days.
She had multiple fractures to the area of her eye socket and associated swelling and bruising and her eye was left shut for a time.
Judge Paul Sloan QC said: "It's a grave offence given the injury.
"Last time, no sooner was he released, he was back on drugs and recalled again. He should be under no illusions whatsoever, if that happens again the likelihood is he will be back before the court very fast and in custody again."
The court heard Lamb has an "entrenched" drug habit, no qualifications and no job history.
He claims to be motivated to make positive changes to his life.
Judge Sloan said: "It's not the first time you have made that claim and I have considerable doubts that will be your attitude on release but I'm prepared to give you a chance.
"It's up to you whether you take it, the responsibility is yours. You are very ready to blame others but it's down to you to address your drug addiction."
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