A VIOLENT chef who inflicted a series of bite and punch assaults on THREE women has been spared jail — despite his offences 'passing the custody threshold'.

Patrick O'Connor sank his teeth into two victims — breaking the skin of one — during a booze-fuelled bust-up at a house in Greenock.

O'Connor, 33, injured one of the women when he bit her on her body, before pushing another against a wall and using his teeth on her as well.

He also grabbed the third woman and punched and scratched her.

One of the bite assaults was aggravated by involving abuse of O'Connor's partner or ex-partner, a sentencing hearing at Greenock Sheriff Court was told.

O'Connor and the women had been drinking and watching a football match before an incident occurred and he was confronted by one of the three.

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A procurator fiscal depute said: "The witness challenged the accused in relation to his behaviour and an attempt was made to get him to leave the property.

"They eventually got him outside onto the patio area of the garden and he bit one woman on her left thumb causing the skin to break.

"He continued to bite down then let go and grabbed another female and threw her up against a garden wall.

"He grabbed another female's T-shirt, punched her on the neck and scratched her on her back."

Greenock Telegraph:

O'Connor bit one of the women twice on her arm and was later arrested after police turned up and found him intoxicated in the garden.

Defence solicitor Gerry Keenan told the court: "It is a matter of which he is not proud nor should he be.

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"They had been enjoying watching the football and drink had been taken to the extent where his recollection of how it occurred is vague.

"He is sorry that is what he did.

"He does demonstrate genuine contrition for it."

Mr Keenan said O'Connor, who is currently employed as a chef, 'drank to excess' on the day but does not have an alcohol addiction.

Sheriff James Varney described the behaviour of O'Connor, who has previous criminal convictions, as 'disgusting' and told him: "The biting has led me to believe it has passed the custody threshold.

"You bit not only once but also two people.

"Biting anyone, never mind more than one person, is a horrendous thing to do and this court will not condone it."

The sheriff stated that a jail term of up to 12 months could have been imposed, however, O'Connor was instead put on a nine-month night-time curfew with the electronic tagging order applying from 7pm-7am each night.