Oldham man jailed for glassing girlfriend in pub

A 43-year-old man with a history of violence has been jailed for 18 months after glassing his girlfriend in an Oldham pub, then racially abusing a police officer while being detained. Melvin Whelan, who already served time for his role in violent disorder that led to the murder of 25-year-old Charlie Elms, lost his temper in the pub and threw his drink over his partner before attacking her with a glass. Judge Jason MacAdam at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court described Whelan's actions as...

The court heard that Whelan has 35 previous convictions from more than 80 offences spanning three decades, including a 2010 conviction for assaulting a partner. Judge. MacAdam told Whelan: 'I am old enough to know that in relationships, there can be provocation and winding up, but to then glass that person is something that removes any responsibility from them and puts it all on your shoulders.' The judge also criticised Whelan for racially abusing a police officer while being dealt with after...

Whelan initially denied the assault but changed his plea to guilty on the first day of trial. The judge said he poses a high risk of causing serious harm when in a temper and intoxicated, and sentenced him to 16 months for the assault and two months for the racial abuse, to run consecutively. He will serve half the sentence in prison and the remainder on licence.