A man from Harpenden who bit a woman's finger off has been jailed for four and a half years.

Patrick O’Malley, 37, of Northfield Road, was jailed on Friday after the incident, which took place last year at the Gibraltar Castle Pub in Lower Luton Road.

A fight broke out involving a number of people on December 15. A 59-year-old woman from Harpenden was hit on the head with a glass before a further altercation took place outside. During this altercation a 45-year-old woman’s finger was bitten off by O’Malley.

He was also jailed for an ABH offence, in which a 63-year-old man lost a front tooth and suffered a cut to his head during the initial fight.

Anoushka Harrison was also found guilty of this offence and an ABH assault in relation to the 59-year-old woman who suffered a cut to her head. She was given a two year sentence, suspended for two years.

She also received a curfew.

Detective Constable Paul Cullinan investigated the case and said: "This was a serious incident in which a number of people were injured whilst simply trying to enjoy a night out.

"Patrick O’Malley in particular inflicted horrendous injuries on one of the people, who will have to live with that injury for the rest of her life."