FOUR men who kicked and punched a man as he lay in the street in an alcohol fuelled New Year’s Eve assault in Newport city centre have avoided immediate jail, but will pay out significant sums of compensation.

Newport men Caleb Laughlin, 24, Thomas Llewellyn, 22, Steven Bishop, 23, and Liam Williams, 22, were given suspended sentences for the attack outside the Queens Hotel, also known as Lloyds bar, in Bridge Street, which left the victim with a broken jaw.

Cardiff Crown Court heard today (Monday), that the victim had been involved in a fight with Williams, of Hendre Farm Drive, in the bar before the attack at around 11pm.

The victim and Williams were thrown out of the hotel, after blows were exchanged.

Later, after the victim left, he approached Williams to speak to him but became involved in a fight with the group of four.

Kevin Seal, defending for Williams, said the victim was the aggressor in 

the first altercation and then decided there was “unfinished business”

by approaching Williams.

The court heard that the victim pushed Bishop in the chest, before being grabbed in a headlock by Laughlin, of Conway Road, trying to stop his friend from being hurt.

The victim was punched two to three times by Bishop, of Burton Road, and then continued to be punched and kicked while lying in the road by the group.

The victim was taken to Royal Gwent Hospital with two fractures to the jaw which required surgery.

He also had a tooth removed, and the court heard he is facing the prospect of dental surgery costing thousands of pounds.

In an impact statement, the victim said he did not know what started the fight but accepted he bears some responsibility.

But he said being attacked by four men while lying on the floor was “too much” and went “too far.”

However he said that he did not want to see the four men sent to prison for the attack, but hoped they had learnt their lesson.

The four defendants, who all pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to unlawful wounding, had no previous convictions and were of positive good character, the court heard.

Recorder Richard Booth QC sentenced Laughlin to a 20 month sentence suspended for two years.

He was made to pay the victim compensation of £1,500 and carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.

Williams was given an 18-month sentence suspended for two years. He was also made to pay £1,500 compensation and carry out 160 hours of unpaid work in the next two years.

Bishop was given a 12-month sentence suspended for 18 months.

He was made to pay £1,000 compensation and carry out 100 hours unpaid work.

Llewellyn, of Oxford Street, was given an eight-month sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He was made to pay £1,000 compensation and carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

Three month curfews were also imposed on all four defendants.