A COMPANY director flew into a drunken rage and attacked a pub landlord, then bit a customer, after being asked to leave a gay bar.

Amateur boxer Kris Manclark, 35, drank four cocktails at The Jolly Farmers, in Paradise Street, Oxford, during a night out with his wife Jane to celebrate their sixth wedding anniversary.

After refusing to leave, Manclark punched customer Chris Weston and landlord Neil Ritchie on September 20, Oxford Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.

He sank his teeth into Mr Ritchie’s hand before he was wrestled to the ground, but managed to bite customer Martin Ellwood on the Achilles tendon before he was finally restrained, the court heard.

Manclark, director of Blue Bridge Scaffolding, in Didcot, was given a 16-week suspended sentence after admitting two counts of assault and causing actual bodily harm.

Mr Ritchie said after the sentence said: “It’s a relief and I’m glad the courts have sent a message that this violent behaviour is unacceptable. You can’t go round attacking landlords and people like he did.

“I was very scared. If it hadn’t been for the customers helping, I would have ended up as an in-patient at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

“He was incredibly violent. Even being restrained and waiting for police he was like a bucking bronco.

“I was in pain, my heart was beating twice its normal rate. I couldn’t work for two days and it’s really set me back even now.

“It’s the first time I have been attacked in 11 years of running a pub.”

Sarah Shears, prosecuting, told the court Manclark was asked to leave because he and his wife were being abusive.

Mr Ritchie had a black eye and a bruised hand, Mr Weston received facial injuries and Mr Ellwood suffered a severe leg wound which still requires treatment.

He may need a skin graft operation, Mr Ritchie said.

Manclark had been for a meal with his wife at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons restaurant, in Great Milton, to mark their wedding anniversary.

Howard Wilson, defending, said they went to The Jolly Farmers where he drank four ‘Atomic Bomb’ cocktails.

Mr Wilson described Manclark as a heavy binge drinker who was so drunk he could only recall lying on the pub floor, being restrained.

He has sought help with Alcoholics Anonymous, Mr Wilson told the court.

He said: “He is very, very ashamed of what happened.”

Manclark, of High Street, Long Wittenham, boxes for South Moreton Boxing Club and uses the nickname ‘The Firestarter’.

Ruth Robinson, chairman of magistrates, handed Manclark a 16-week jail sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work, given an 18-month supervision order and ordered to pay a total of £1,375 compensation to his three victims and £65 costs.