A thug who was involved in violent disorder, which then led to the murder of a 25-year-old father-to-be, has been jailed again for glassing his girlfriend in a pub.
Melvin Whelan had already spent time in jail for violent disorder in an incident which ultimately led to a teenager murdering Charlie Elms.
Now, Whelan has been back in the dock after he was caught on CCTV assaulting his partner in a pub.
At a hearing on Thursday (April 16), Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard how the 43-year-old 'lost his temper' in the middle of the pub, and threw his drink over his girlfriend.
He then moved forward and tried to punch her, the court heard, before he then glassed her.
Sentencing Whelan, His Honour Judge Jason MacAdam said that he found his actions 'quite appalling'.
Judge MacAdam explained that after the incident, when Whelan was being 'dealt with' by police, he went on to racially abuse a police officer.
The judge said: "There's nothing that causes you to behave in this way.
"It's just badness."
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The court heard that Whelan accepted the racial abuse of a police officer at the interview, but that he refused the assault.
He instead 'strung it out' until the first day of the trial, when he changed his plea to guilty.
Judge MacAdam explained that Whelan was 'not an old person' but had aggravating previous offences, including his involvement in the Charlie Elms case and had a total of 35 convictions from more than 80 offences spanning 30 years.
He said: "I have read a pre-sentence report, and it states you have a previous conviction in 2010 for assaulting a partner
"The report doesn’t help you.
"You minimise your behaviour, try to attribute blame to [the victim].
"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 author of the report has stated you pose a high risk of reoffending.
"Well, of course you do, how could anybody conclude anything otherwise?
"The author has also submitted that you pose a medium risk of causing serious harm, but it is my opinion that you pose a high risk of causing serious harm when in a temper and intoxicated.
"The proposal of community order by probation is completely unrealistic."
Addressing the abuse of the police officer, the judge said: "Police officers do a difficult job and require the support and protection of the courts.
"As I said, your behaviour was later on, when you should have calmed down.
"It was completely unprovoked."
Judge MacAdam sentenced Whelan to 16 months for one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He was handed a further two months for the racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress, which brings the total sentence to 18 months.
He will serve half in prison, and the other half on licence.
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