UK man sentenced to 5 years in jail for biting off a guest’s finger at best friend’s wedding

A UK man has been sentenced to five years in prison after a violent outburst at his best friend’s wedding left a guest with part of his finger amputated. Daniel Peasnell, 33, was jailed at Oxford Crown Court on December 18, 2025, after being convicted of grievous bodily harm.

The court heard that the incident unfolded in May 2023 during the wedding of Peasnell’s close friend Peter Green, held at The Perch, where Peasnell was serving as an usher.


Prosecutors said Peasnell had been drinking heavily since breakfast on his birthday and continued consuming alcohol throughout the day. His behaviour deteriorated during the reception, culminating in a fight with his ex-girlfriend. He was ejected from the venue but reacted angrily, clashing with the wedding organiser and demanding that the groom come outside to speak to him.

When it became clear he would not be allowed back in, the confrontation escalated into a brawl outside the pub.
The groom’s uncle, Stephen Dixon, and Dixon’s son intervened in an attempt to restrain Peasnell until police arrived. During the struggle, Peasnell bit Dixon’s left hand with extreme force. The bite fractured the bone in Dixon’s middle finger and severed the fingertip, which later had to be partially amputated despite medical treatment.

Police body-worn camera footage captured the chaotic aftermath, including bystanders shouting that a finger had been bitten off and officers calling for an ambulance. After his arrest, Peasnell was heard threatening to bite off a police officer’s nose.

Peasnell denied causing grievous bodily harm but admitted affray and threatening a police officer, claiming he had acted in self-defence. A jury rejected that account following a trial.

Passing sentence, Judge Ian Pringle KC described Peasnell’s conduct as “behaving like a wild animal” and said he had used his teeth as “a highly dangerous weapon”.

“It is plain that Mr Dixon was trying to release his hand,” the judge said, adding that alcohol played a central role in the violence. “Your big problem is that alcohol and you are incompatible.”

In a statement to the court, Dixon described the pain of the injury and the permanent consequences he continues to live with, including the loss of part of his finger. Medical efforts were unable to reattach the severed section.

Peasnell, a father of four from Essex, told the court he was ashamed of his actions and said he no longer drinks alcohol, describing the incident as the lowest point of his life.