Female thug, 22, is jailed for four years after biting off woman’s fingertip outside nightclub and posing with it in her mouth in ‘grotesque’ and ‘disturbing’ Snapchat images

• Libby Armstrong, 22, of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, viciously attacked Toni Lough
• Armstrong bit off Miss Lough’s finger near a club and posed with it in her mouth
• She has been jailed for over four years for the ‘disturbing’ and ‘grotesque’ attack 

A female thug who bit off another woman’s finger and then shared ‘grotesque’ and ‘disturbing’ images of herself with it in her mouth on social media has been jailed.

Libby Armstrong, 22, launched an assault upon victim Toni Lough in the toilets of a nightclub in Wallsend, North Tyneside, on September 9 last year.

After being thrown out by bouncers, the two women fought again outside the club and ended up on the ground.

As mother-of-four Miss Lough’s hand came towards her, Armstrong bit off part of her finger and then proudly showed off her grisly act on Snapchat. 

Appearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Armstrong pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and was jailed for four years, as well as an additional 12 weeks for breaching a suspended sentence.

Libby Armstrong, 22, launched a vicious assault upon victim Toni Lough in the toilets of a nightclub in Wallsend, North Tyneside, on September 9 last year

Appearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Armstrong was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to wounding with intent, as well as an additional 12 weeks for breaching a suspended sentence

Recorder David Brooke KC told her: ‘What’s most disturbing about the attack, that being bad enough, is in the moments after that you then posed or took pictures which ended up on social media, effectively showing off about it with the tip of the finger in your mouth. 

‘That’s a concerning feature of this offence.’

The court heard Armstrong, of Westerhope, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, has nine previous convictions, including for assaulting an emergency worker and biting a police officer on the leg.

On the day of the attack, both women had been in Manhattans nightclub when Miss Lough was in the toilets waiting for her friend.

 Armstrong lunged at her and pulled her hair, dragging her to the ground. Another customer alerted door staff and both women were asked to leave.

Miss Lough was then standing outside the front of the club when Armstrong left through another exit. The court heard Miss Lough went towards Armstrong with hand outstretched and there was another clash.

Graeme O’Sullivan, prosecuting, said: ‘Miss Lough ended up on top of the defendant. As her hand went towards the defendant’s face she bit onto her ring finger. Miss Lough was screaming at her asking her to stop. She could feel the defendant biting through her finger.’

The top third of her left ring finger, including all of the nail, was completely amputated. Miss Lough, who is left-handed, attended hospital in pain and distress. She also had bruising to her ribs and knee.

On the day of the attack, both women had been in Manhattans nightclub in Wallsend when Miss Lough was in the toilets waiting for her friend

Mr O’Sullivan said: ‘After the incident the defendant retained the fingertip and took pictures of herself with the tip in her mouth. She also boasted of her actions on Snapchat and sent the images to her friend.’

When Armstrong was arrested, she lied when asked where the fingertip was, saying it was left at the scene.

In a victim impact statement, Miss Lough said she had been left depressed as a result of the attack and has ongoing issues with her hand. She ended up needing anti-depressants, sleeping tablets and pain killers and lost a stone in weight due to not eating.

She was a sandwich maker and had to quit her job. Miss Lough said: ‘I don’t want to work with food and I was worried about the public looking at my hand and making comments about it.’

She added: ‘It hurts from the slightest touch even when I run my fingers through my hair. I no longer have a strong grip and if anything touches my finger I drop the item.

‘If I ever get married the ring would go on the finger and be a constant reminder.’

Matthew Purves, defending, said: ‘She would apologise for what was dreadful behaviour and also the lasting consequences of her actions on the victim. She expresses genuine remorse and apologises for the behaviour and consequences.

‘It goes well beyond self-defence. On the ground, the defendant explains a moment occurred where the complainant’s hand is near her face and she bites down on the finger. At this stage a number of door supervisors intervene and pull the two participants apart.

‘What followed is a quite grotesque set of photographs being taken of the fingertip in her mouth. There’s no explanation for that.

‘The Snapchat video lasted four seconds. It’s then shared and other individuals capture it on their phones and input captions on it.’

Mr Purves added that Armstrong had a troubled upbringing and ended up in foster care.

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