A man has been jailed by Acting Deemster Alistair Montgomery for trying to cut his wife's ear off.

David Parry, 45, care of the prison, admitted unlawfully and maliciously wounding his wife with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Linda Watt, prosecuting said following an argument with his wife Fiona Parry on May 7th at the defendant's home, he tried to cut her ear off.

Mrs Parry was taken to hospital some time later and treated for wounds behind and in front of her ear.

David Parry was arrested and admitted to cutting her ear and said it was a stupid thing to have done. His advocate, Darren Talbot, said Parry who had a history of alcohol abuse, took the scissors following a "childish" argument. He claimed that she "nagged" him. Parry was ashamed of his actions and he was not blaming anyone other than himself.

Deemster Montgomery said it was an unprovoked attack and domestic violence would not be tolerated. He imposed a sentence of two years nine months, and he also activated a one month of a forty two day suspended sentence to run consecutively, giving a total sentence of two years and ten months.