“You, alcohol and a female partner is, I’m afraid, a toxic combination.” – these were the words a judge told an Andover man as he was sent to prison for putting his then partner in a headlock and biting her ear outside a pub in town centre.

Glen McNeilly, 38, and of Lancelot Close, has been jailed for 14 months after assaulting his then partner and exhibiting threatening and abusive behaviour towards a pub doorman and a police community support officer (PCSO).

The incident happened on April 29 while he was drinking with his then girlfriend and his brother at The Redbridge pub in Bridge Street.

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Winchester Crown Court heard on Friday, July 7, that both McNeilly and his then partner had quite a few pints of alcohol and they became loud and aggressive towards each other.

Prosecutor Kerry Maylin recounted the events, stating that the altercation spilled outside the pub where McNeilly placed his partner in a headlock.

He proceeded to punch her and bite her ear, causing injuries that included cuts to the top of her right ear, the top of her right cheek, as well as bruising and swelling around her left eye.

Her earring was also ripped from her ear as a result of the assault.

McNeilly was also abusive to the pub doorman.

When a PCSO arrived at the scene to apprehend him, McNeilly attempted to flee.

The officer pursued him on a bicycle and grabbed him by the shoulder.

At that point, McNeilly made a threat saying, "on my life, I will stab you". 

Concerned for his safety, the officer suspected that McNeilly might have a knife.

Although McNeilly managed to escape temporarily, he was later apprehended in the backyard of a nearby business.

No knife was found in his possession.

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The court heard that McNeilly has 21 convictions for 14 offences, some of which involved violence against his previous partners.

In mitigation, Saul Herman claimed that McNeilly has abstained from alcohol since the incident and was working to rebuild his life.

In sentencing, Judge Paul Dugdale addressed McNeilly directly, noting his violent history and the disturbing similarities between his previous offences.

The judge said: “You have been violent to your partners on three previous occasions, and the offences were remarkably similar.

“This is a problem, which is why I said, you, alcohol and a female partner are a terrible combination. Whatever the rights and wrongs, you end up being violent. There is an ongoing risk to people, particularly your partner, when you are in that state.”