Daniel Peasnell, a 33-year-old father of four from the UK, received a five-year prison sentence on December 18, 2025, at Oxford Crown Court for grievous bodily harm after biting off part of Stephen Dixon’s finger during his best friend Peter Green’s wedding in May 2023.
Incident Details
Peasnell, serving as an usher, began drinking heavily early that day and continued at the event. After fighting with his ex-girlfriend, he was ejected from the venue, sparking further altercations with the wedding organizer and staff. Outside, he demanded his friend come out, leading to a brawl where Dixon—Peter Green’s uncle—and his son intervened to restrain him until police arrived. Peasnell bit Dixon’s left middle finger so severely it fractured the bone and required partial amputation; the top of an adjacent finger was also lost.
Court Proceedings
Peasnell denied GBH but admitted affray and threatening a police officer, claiming self-defense as Dixon tried to free his hand. Judge Ian Pringle KC rejected this, calling Peasnell’s mouth a “highly dangerous weapon” and noting his “wild animal” behavior fueled by alcohol incompatibility. Bodycam footage captured the chaos, including shouts of “He’s bit half his finger off!” and Peasnell questioning his arrest.
Sentencing Remarks
The judge highlighted Peasnell’s post-arrest threat to bite off an officer’s nose, emphasizing shame and the need to avoid alcohol. Dixon faced permanent injury, underscoring the unprovoked escalation from a celebratory event.
