A Watford man has been jailed for attempting to bite his brother's thumb off.

Ousman Bojang chomped down on the thumb of his sibling so hard his teeth went straight through his nail, St Albans Crown Court heard.

The 26-year-old attacked his brother Sulayman Touray at their home in Hagden Lane, Watford, when he refused to let him in, following an earlier altercation.

Bojang has been involved in a long-running feud with his brother and was jailed for a previous matter of battery, having a bladed article and threatening words and behaviour, in which his brother was also the victim.

Bojang was arrested and charged with ABH following the incident on February 21.

Matters became worse for Bojang when police questioned his Swedish nationality and remanded him in custody.

Alan Landsbury, prosecuting, said Bojang left his Watford address in a "temper" slamming the door and punching Mr Touray a number of times.

He returned and, when Mr Touray refused to allow him in, Bojang forced entry.

A struggle ensued between the two men and Bojang bit his brother's thumb and "refused to let go," said Mr Landsbury.

In police interview he claimed to be acting in self defence, but admitted the assault at an earlier hearing.

Andrew Kerry, defending, said: "He accepts that biting the thumb like this crosses the threshold of self defence."

He added: "In fairness to him, he does not recall any particular punching but accepts there was a struggle between him and his brother."

There was no need for the court to consider a restraining order to separate the warring siblings as Bojang had "no intention of having anything more to do with his brother".

The police had been called to the brothers' home a number of times and they clearly "do not get on" the court heard.

Mr Kerry said: "The two brothers do not get on. His brother will take every opportunity to get him in trouble."

Bojang faces the threat of deportation, but claimed to be a member of the EU and that he posted his passport back to his mother in Sweden after arriving in Watford eight years ago.

If released from prison he would stay with his aunt in Latimer Close, Watford, Mr Kerry promised.

Recorder Brook-Smith QC jailed Bojang for four-and-a-half months, but with time spent on remand to count is due to be released almost immediately.

Mr Brook-Smith said: "You bit your brother's thumb and refused to let go, causing a deep bite mark that went through the thumb nail.

"This is you second offence of violence.

"You got imprisonment first back in 2008 and I am afraid the offence today is so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified."