A drunken wedding usher who acted like a "wild animal" and bit off a fellow guest's finger has been jailed for five years. The shocking incident, captured on police bodycam footage, occurred at a wedding reception near Oxford.
A Birthday Spiral into Drunken Violence
Daniel Peasnell, 33, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday after being found guilty of grievous bodily harm. The father-of-four had been drinking since breakfast on the day of the attack in May 2023, which also coincided with his 31st birthday.
The violence erupted at The Perch Pub in Binsey, near Oxford, during the wedding of his best friend, Peter Green. Peasnell's increasingly erratic and aggressive behaviour prompted wedding organisers to call the police. As officers arrived at the scene, they witnessed the culmination of the attack.
Bodycam Captures Grisly Aftermath
Newly released footage from police body-worn cameras shows the chaotic scene. Officers approached to find Peasnell, in 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.
One officer immediately requested an ambulance, stating, "I think somebody's finger has been bitten off," with another confirming the grim injury. The victim, Stephen Dixon, later described the agonising pain of feeling Peasnell "biting" and "chewing" on his finger, resulting in a missing piece of the digit.
Court Hears Conflicting Accounts
In court, Peasnell, who admitted charges of affray and using threatening behaviour towards a police officer but denied GBH with intent, claimed he was acting in self-defence. He stated he was "completely and utterly intoxicated" and was being punched and kicked during a "melee." He said he bit down because he "couldn't breathe" and was "just trying to survive," adding he was "disgusted" Mr Dixon was harmed.
However, His Honour Judge Ian Pringle KC summarised that Peasnell had become angry after it was clear he would not be invited back into the wedding. The groom, Peter Green, had described Peasnell's behaviour as that of a "wild animal." The judge noted Peasnell had also threatened to bite off a police officer's nose during his drunken fury.
Peasnell, who told the court he no longer drinks, was sentenced to five years imprisonment. The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of alcohol-fuelled violence.
