A SERVING soldier who got annoyed when his former partner’s friend became involved in an altercation at Chard after misinterpreting the situation ended up biting her in the face.

Toby George Samways pushed his partner out of the way when trouble flared in the early hours of the morning, but her friend took exception to his behaviour and intervened herself.

During the melee he bit the victim’s cheek, breaking the skin, and later accepted he had overstepped the mark, Somerset Magistrates were told.

Samways, 24, of Summerlands Park Avenue, Ilminster, pleaded guilty to assaulting Rebecca Plumley by beating her during the incident on July 4.

Julyan Stephens, prosecuting, said that Samways had gone out for a meal and drinks with his partner and friends in Chard and in the early hours of the morning there was an argument which occurred between others at the scene.

“Samways’ partner got involved so he pushed her away on the basis that he wanted to keep her out of the way and for her own protection,” he said.

“Miss Plumley then got involved because she didn’t like the way Samways had pushed her friend and there was an altercation when he became annoyed at her. During this melee Samways accepted he overstepped the self defence mark and bit her on the cheek which broke the skin.”

In a basis of plea Samways said his partner had got involved in the argument so he held her back to protect her but then said Miss Plumley tried to punch him which connected.

He claimed she had bitten him on the upper arm, a claim disputed by the prosecution, and he bit her on the face having failed to be able to push her away.

He said his actions had been entirely in self defence but accepted it had gone beyond what was reasonable behaviour.

Sam Morton, defending, said that Rifleman Samways had been in the army for eight years and this offence was “completely out of character” for him.

He said: “They all went out as friends and it’s a real shame things developed as they did and his initial intentions was to get other males from fighting each other."

“He held his partner back and her friend obviously misinterpreted the situation and thought he was acting in a bad way.

“She started the violence by punching him and it was her that first bit him leaving a mark on his left bicep which broke the skin.

“However, a bite to the face was an extreme reaction but he tried to push her away but couldn’t get her off and was in pain at the time so accepts causing the injury.”

The magistrates fined Samways £115 and ordered him to pay £80 compensation to Miss Plumley. They also imposed costs of £85, a £150 court charge and a £20 victim surcharge.