A wedding celebration at a picturesque Oxfordshire pub descended into a scene of horrific violence when a drunken usher, in a fit of rage, bit off part of a fellow guest's finger. Daniel Peasnell, 33, has now been jailed for five years after being found guilty of grievous bodily harm for the attack, which occurred in May 2023.
A Birthday Spiral into Drunken Violence
The incident took place at The Perch Pub in Binsey, near Oxford, during the wedding of Peasnell's best friend, Peter Green. The court heard that Peasnell, who was also celebrating his 31st birthday, had been drinking since breakfast. His behaviour became increasingly erratic and violent throughout the day, prompting wedding organisers to call the police.
As officers arrived at the scene, they witnessed the culmination of the chaos. Newly-released police bodycam footage shows Peasnell, sporting a ripped and bloodied white shirt, being pinned to the ground by three other guests. A man can be heard shouting, "He’s bit half his finger off!" followed by a woman's scream.
The Grisly Details of the Attack
The victim, Stephen Dixon, had intervened to stop Peasnell from attacking the groom. Recalling the traumatic event at Oxford Crown Court, Mr Dixon described feeling Peasnell "biting" and "chewing" on his finger. "It was agonising pain," he testified. "I was screaming. There was a piece of my finger missing."
Police at the scene immediately requested an ambulance, with one officer stating, "I think somebody's finger has been bitten off." Despite the clear evidence and his bloodied state, Peasnell protested to officers, saying, "I don't know what I've done, sorry." In his continued drunken fury, he also threatened to bite off a police officer's nose.
Trial, Sentencing, and Remorse
Peasnell had denied grievous bodily harm with intent but was convicted after a trial. He previously admitted charges of affray and using threatening words or behaviour towards a police officer. The father-of-four told the jury his relationship with alcohol at the time was "awful" and that he was "completely and utterly intoxicated." He claimed he bit down in a panic while being beaten, stating, "I was just trying to survive. I'm disgusted he was harmed."
However, His Honour Judge Ian Pringle KC summarised that Peasnell had become angry after the groom made it clear he would not be invited back into the wedding. The judge noted the groom had described Peasnell's behaviour as that of a "wild animal." Peasnell was sentenced to five years imprisonment on Thursday for the grievous bodily harm.
The horrifying episode serves as a stark reminder of how excessive alcohol consumption can trigger catastrophic violence, transforming a day of joy into one of permanent physical and psychological trauma.
