Burhan Dilek, 26, violently assaulted Sylvia Davis in front of another couple, leaving her with a broken nose, bruised eye socket and a torn ear.

Ms Davis was knocked unconscious and later needed hospital treatment for injuries, including a skin graft on her partially-detached ear.

Lewes Crown Court heard how the 15-minute attack happened as the couple visited a friend's home in East Grinstead.

Dilek, of North Street, Turners Hill admitted causing grievous bodily harm following the attack on December 26 last year.

Judge Richard Brown gave Dilek a two-year community order with supervision after hearing that he had served the equivalent of an 18-month sentence while in custody.

He told him: "Domestic violence in any form is not acceptable and is always serious.

"It is clear you suffer from mental illness which has been on occasion aggravated by the use of various substances."