A man poured disinfectant in his fiancee's eyes, temporarily blinding her after a row over a new girlfriend, a court heard.

Forest Nusum of Sound View Road, Somerset pleaded not guilty to the assault in which the Sobel Lewis suffered chemical burns to her eyes, and the loss of skin and cornea.

Magistrate's Court heard that Nusum was an outpatient at St. Brendan's Hospital, and that he was on medication and was not supposed to drink.

On August 19 Nusum and his fianc?e had an argument where she grabbed him by the testicles. He said that he was trying to distract her by pouring the Dettol on her head so that he could get free.

Eye specialist Dr. Maher Attia's medical report stated that he could see the skin loss on Ms Lewis' eyes and a loss of the cornea. He said he treated it with an antibiotic. Another doctor said she had suffered chemical burns to the eyes.

Ms Lewis told the court last Friday that she had to help Nusum into the house because he was drunk.

She said: "He opened the bottle of Dettol and poured it all over me. He then told me that once the Dettol was gone he would be pouring the Clorox next."

The court heard that in her struggle she ended on the floor temporarily losing her sight.

After the fight she washed her face, but her face and eyes kept burning. She later went to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where Dr. Attia treated her.

Crown Counsel Graveney Bannister appeared for the prosecution and Richard Horseman was representing Nusum.

The hearing continues on Friday.