A NEWPORT man who stabbed a neighbour twice following a row has avoided jail.

Oliver Cooney, 23, of Monnow Way, Bettws, appeared before Newport Crown Court after previously pleading guilty to unlawful wounding.

The court heard how neighbour James Webber, whose garden backs onto the defendant's and is separated by a five foot fence, was entertaining guests in his garden on July 26 last year.

At 7pm, Cooney was trying to jump over the fence and Mr Webber went over and told him to stop.

Cooney then went to the front of Mr Webber’s house and continued to walk into the family home. Mr Webber tried to get Cooney out, but the defendant then became aggressive. Mr Webber admits that he punched the defendant who fell to the floor unconscious.

They brought him around with water and then took him back home.

But a little while later, Cooney was back in his garden and drinking vodka before causing damage to the fence and being abusive.

The group continued with their evening, but Cooney came to the front door, before hitting Mr Webber in the forehead with an object.

Mr Webber then realised it was a knife and Cooney stabbed him in the abdomen twice.

The court heard how they were not deep wounds, only penetrating fatty tissue, but one wound required two stitches.

In the early hours of July 27 police arrived armed with tasers, and Cooney, who had been back inside his own property, tried to get away by jumping over fences. But he was later arrested.

Recorder Greg Bull was told that the defendant has a serious heart condition, which would require open heart surgery and a pace maker, which had affected him emotionally.

He said: “If you keep drinking vodka after vodka and if you do not change, you will be dead.” To which the defendant replied that he had changed.

He was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment suspended for two years.

He was ordered to attend anger management sessions and take part in drugs and alcohol counselling and to pay a victim surcharge of £120.