A NEWPORT man has been jailed for six years for stabbing a man in the face in an unprovoked and violent attack.

David Hunt, aged 39, of Alexander Road, Newport, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court today for wounding with intent and possession of a bladed weapon.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

The recorder of Cardiff Judge Eleri Rees sentenced him to six years imprisonment and four years on licence for the incident which took place on May 14 of this year in Llanhilleth.

The court heard the defendant stabbed Phillip Bishop, aged 40, in the face and on his shoulder in an unprovoked attack.

Judge Eleri Rees said the sentence she imposed was to protect the public as she concluded the defendant posed 'significant risk of serious harm.'

She said this was not an action of self-defence and Hunt posed a risk of serious physical injury to others.

Mr Bishop was at his friends flat when the defendant turned up at around 3pm and demanded money from Michael Harvey around £150.

Ian Kolvin, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Bishop describes Hunt getting angrier and shouting while he had his right hand in his coat pocket.

Mr Bishop approached the defendant to escort him out of the property but the defendant brought his right hand, which had the knife, up to Mr Bishop's face just below the ear.

Mr Bishop felt the knife twist and said he was in 'searing pain' with blood pouring out of his face.

He was also stabbed in the shoulder.

The defendant fled the scene and was found by police at around 6.45pm in a property in Abertillery and the knife was found in the kitchen.

Mr Bishop in a victim impact statement said he had lived in Abertillery for the past eight years and was born in Brynmawr but had never been seriously assaulted.

He said the incident had knocked his confidence.

He said: “I was an outgoing person but the incident has changed my life completely."

"I'm not afraid of David Hunt - I'm afraid of this happening again."

The court heard that Hunt has eight previous convictions for 18 offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm and perverting the course of justice.

In 2000 he was jailed for seven and a half years for ABH after stabbing a juvenile with a syringe.

He was also imprisoned for nine years for wounding with intent when he was involved in a stabbing of a man who had injuries to his face and chest.

Tracey Lloyd-Nesling, defending, said Hunt had fallen into abuse of alcohol and drugs.

The court heard he had started abusing alcohol aged 11 and was using heroin at 17-years-old.

Officer in the case, DC Marc Gardner, after the sentencing, said: “This was an incident of extreme violence which thankfully is not common in Gwent.

"I would like to thank the victim for showing great strength and courage throughout, and hope that today’s result goes some way in providing some comfort to him."