A NEWPORT man who hit someone over the head with a table leg was handed an 18-month prison sentence.

Jamie Messenger, of St John's Road, Newport, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to wounding.

Newport Crown Court was told the 39-year-old had 18 previous convictions for 43 offences but only one for assault, causing actual bodily harm, in 1984.

Judge David Morris said today that the incident had taken place in a house in which Messenger was staying. He had struck another man over the head with an "impromptu weapon".

However, he did not start the argument, was the only person in the house not adversely affected by alcohol and was threatened by another man with the table leg.

Judge Morris said that against that background, Messenger struggled with the other man and took the table leg from him before hitting him "in retaliation".

But nonetheless, he added, it was a serious offence and crossed the custody threshold.

Messenger was already in custody having been recalled to serve the remainder of a prison sentence for which he was released on licence.

Judge Morris said the sentence for this offence would begin immediately.

Robert Duval, defending, said Messenger accepted hitting the victim once. He was initially acting in self-defence.

He added it was not pre-meditated and he did not bring the weapon to the scene. "It was an offence which was brought to him rather than one he went out to seek."