A man who slashed the face of a drinker, after being asked for an apology for bumping into him in a pub, failed to see his jail term reduced yesterday.

Christopher King, 41, of Broad Shard, Crewkerne, Somerset, was jailed for four years, after being found guilty at Oxford Crown Court last September of wounding Steven Grimwade with intent, at the Hobgoblin pub in Bicester.

London's Criminal Appeal Court refused to reduce his sentence, rejecting claims it was "manifestly excessive".

Mrs Justice Cox, sitting with Lord Justice Gage and Mr Justice Curtis, said King had drunk a great deal of alcohol and committed a violent assault. "Sentences for people who carry and then use knives to attack others must inevitably be substantial," she said.

Mr Grimwade had seven stitches and was left with permanent scarring.