A CROSSKEYS man punched his neighbour’s dentures out in an attack over the noise of his barking dog.

Bryn James, 57, of Garden Suburbs, Pontywaun, threatened to kill 64-year-old Robert Parry and his partner’s dog during the assault on April 11 this year.

James and Mr Parry were both residents at a block of flats in Lower Wyndham Terrace in Risca when the attack happened. James pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH).

Mr Parry, who had moved to Risca from Liverpool a few months before the assault, lived in the flat directly above James.

The court heard Mr Parry’s partner came to stay and brought her dog, Max, with her.

During her stay the dog barked a couple of times but “was not considered to be a problem” – until James expressed he was unhappy with the noise.

A few times on April 10 – the day before the attack – James banged on the ceiling and made threats to kill Mr Parry and the dog. Mr Parry did not take the threats seriously, and on April 11 he went downstairs to James’ flat to explain the dog was only visiting.

The court heard James came out of the flat and moved towards Mr Parry with a nine-inch knife in his hand while shouting more threats.

As James lunged forwards Mr Parry tried to push the blade away, but he cut his knuckle.

James continued to shout and swear about the dog and then punched Mr Parry to the right side of his face, knocking out two of his dentures.

In mitigation, the court heard how James suffered from mental health difficulties. He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months.

The judge, recorder Catherine Brown, said: “This is the first time you have been convinced of any criminal offence but it is a serious criminal offence. You have to understand that the answer is not to resort to violence.”