AN ISLE of Wight man bit his own mother's head during a row and left her in fear of further violence at his hands, an Island court was told.

Joshua Green, 34, of Windmill Close, Cowes, admitted assaulting his mother by beating, and causing criminal damage to furnishings at her home in East Cowes on January 14.

Green changed his pleas on January 19 after initially denying the offences.

Green was given a roof over his head by his mother after he lost his accommodation at Howard House, in Newport, run by the Salvation Army.

He got into an argument with her — demanding she hand him her bank card, said Lauren Stone, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court. 

The row descended into violence, with Green trying to bite her head — an attempt which left no marks. 

Green, with a history of violence against his mother, and has, since living with her, put her in fear of him, the court heard.

While trying to phone the police for help, Green tried to snatch her phone. 

While waiting for the police, Green smashed a bottle of vodka and had earlier broken the bannister on the stairs.

In her victim statement, Mrs Green, described as vulnerable, said her son's actions had left her feeling exhausted and sick with stress.

The victim said in her statement: "Josh opened his mouth and tried to bite my head. I didn't have any marks but it did hurt."

She added Green had left her fearing for her safety in her own home.

Green, with a record of 18 convictions for 32 offences — several of them for violence and carrying weapons — had hurt his mother only temporarily with the attempted bite, said Oscar Vincent, for the defence.  

Mr Vincent said his client had a toxic relationship with his mother spanning several years, with alcohol the trigger for most of his offending behaviour.

Green was made subject to a probation order last year. Magistrates made him subject to a new order for 12 months, to include rehabilitation sessions, £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.