Wolverhampton man punched in the face and finger bitten off in pub bust up

Michael Woodward and Alan Burrows clashed at the Roebuck Inn on Penn Road in Wolverhampton where both were regulars, it was said at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Although the duo were not close friends they engaged in occasional 'banter,' the court heard.

This turned to violence on November 10 in 2012 after Woodward took exception to something the other man did or said, explained Mr Timothy Sapwell, prosecuting.

The 50-year-old defendant 'knocked, threw or flung' a Chinese meal being eaten by Mr Burrows onto the floor and punched him several times in the face, it was said.

The victim put his hands up in a bid to halt the onslaught and part of his right hand ended up in the mouth of Woodward who bit down on the little finger for 'only a split second,' the court was told.

The injured man was taken to hospital but doctors were unable to reattach the severed tip.

The defendant insisted he had not intended to cause serious injury and a jury acquitted him of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after a trial in September last year.

Mr Oliver Woolhouse, defending, said: "These two men were not good friends. A prank played by the other man provoked a further deterioration in the situation, although there is disagreement over exactly how it started. This was not premeditated in any way."

Woodward from Tremaine Gardens, Springfield admitted causing grievous bodily harm and was given an 18-month jail sentence suspended under supervision for two years and ordered to pay £750 in compensation and costs.

Recorder Marcus Tregilgas-Davey said: "You knocked, threw or flung his meal to the floor and punched him a number of times in the face. He put his hands out to stop what was happening and you bit his finger."

"There was no provocation for this but there was perceived provocation. He did not punch you. You exploded into anger and your actions that evening were so serious the offence crosses the custodial threshold.

"However I will suspend the prison sentence because of your ill health, your guilty plea and the stress you were put under waiting for the more than two years for the case to be resolved."