Belfast Crown Court heard the victim regarded Uddin as a "good man and father"
A man who bit off part of his ex-partner's ear in a "moment of madness" has been jailed despite a written plea from her for him to be freed.
Belfast Crown Court heard that Jalal Uddin, from Darlett Street in the city, had attacked his former partner in front of their young son.
The victim had written to the court asking for mercy to be shown to him.
However the judge said Uddin's crime of domestic violence was so serious he would have to be sent to prison.
Judge Stephen Fowler QC said the custodial sentence must also include an element of deterrence to others.
He said while he accepted that Uddin's former partner had written to ask that he be spared from jail, unfortunately in such cases her opinion was "of limited assistance to the court".
'Exemplary character'
However, Judge Fowler said that because of the letter he would "moderate" his four year sentence and reduce it by six months.
Uddin was ordered to serve 18 months in prison followed by two years on probation.
"I want to make it clear that the courts consider all offences of domestic violence as serious ... and that only a custodial sentence is justified," he said.
The judge explained that while Uddin was a man of exemplary character, with a good work record and regarded by his former partner as a "good man and father", he had assaulted a vulnerable young woman in front of their young son and as such had breached the trust she had placed in him.
Uddin, had, he added, bitten off part of her ear and "then spat it out, not caring if it could be stitched on again".
Defence lawyer Martin Morgan said that while what happened was a "vicious attack", it had "happened in the heat of the moment" in what was "a moment of madness".
'Remorse'
Uddin, he said, was essentially a man of an impeccable background, an honourable man who knew the court could impose only one sentence, that of custody.
Mr Morgan said that in his probation report, which he described as being "saturated with remorse", Uddin accepted what he had done, indicating that he had "lost all self control at the time".
Mr Morgan added that if his former partner had "her way he would not be going to prison ... but he knows what is going to happen today".
