A NEWPORT man was sentenced to nine months in prison, after admitting smashing a bottle over a man’s head and then kicking him on the ground.

Kristopher Abdie, 21, of Oswald Road, Pill, appeared in Newport crown court for sentencing on Thursday, having previously admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe said the complainant, Paul Gerry, went to the Nisa store on Commercial Road, Pill, at around 9pm on August 31 last year to buy some cigarettes. A group of youths, including the defendant, were outside the shop when he entered.

The court heard CCTV footage showed Abdie entering the store, hiding himself to the side of the entrance and holding a bottle.

As Mr Gerry left the shop, the footage showed Abdie smashing the bottle over his head, which caused Mr Gerry to stumbled into the road and fall over.

Mr Cobbe said Abdie followed Mr Gerry and kicked him repeatedly while he was on the ground. The attack came to an end when a passing car stopped and the defendant and victim went their separate ways.

The court heard they came across each other again later and Abdie chased Mr Gerry home, where his mother alerted police. Mr Gerry suffered a superficial wound to his head and abrasions.

Representing Abdie, Nicolas Gareth Jones said there was bad feeling between the defendant and Mr Gerry, following a past incident, which was not reported to the police.

Mr Jones said Abdie did not remember the full details of the incident, as he had been drinking, but accepts the CCTV footage was clear. He added that Abdie recognised his problems with alcohol and was addressing them.

Judge Roderick Denyer sentenced Abdie to nine months imprisonment.