A NEWPORT man has been jailed for an act of “mindless drunken violence” after he attacked two men in Cwmbran.

Christopher Bush, aged 21, of Aberthaw Drive, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm (GBH) and assault by beating of two victims in the car park of Wetherspoons in Cwmbran on August 30 last year.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison for GBH and 4 months for the assault, to run concurrently.

Cardiff Crown Court heard today that the two victims, aged 28 and 29, were out socialising in Cwmbran when they were subjected to an unprovoked attack by Bush.

Both were taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital following the attack, with one suffering bruising and the other suffering a fractured jaw. The latter was on a liquid diet for three weeks and then soft food only for six weeks.

The defendant was recognised by a police officer on council CCTV and he was arrested and interviewed on September 5 last year. He pleaded guilty to both offences on November 12 at Newport Magistrates Court.

Prosecutor Jeffrey Jones said: “He said he had drunk too much alcohol and agreed it was unprovoked.

“He went on to say that he thought one of them had said something to his girlfriend but the eye witness certainly does not support that application.

“Both witnesses have made recoveries from their injuries but both have had to attend hospital and dentist appointments.”

In mitigation, barrister Gareth Williams said: “He [Bush] doesn’t understand why he did it. It’s completely out of character. He is at a loss to explain it.”

Mr Williams added that Bush had recently been made redundant from his job but was due to start a scaffolding course on Monday.

Sentencing Bush, judge Stephen Hopkins QC said: “This is, depressingly, yet another case appearing before the local crown court of mindless drunken violence where innocent people for no reason at all are attacked.”

He added that CCTV showed Bush “effectively running the entire length of the car park” following the two victims before punching both, causing one to fall to the ground.

Judge Hopkins QC added: “Both now fear going out, even two months after the event because of the unprovoked nature of the attack. They can’t understand for the life of them why they should be targeted.”

Bush was also sentenced to pay a £100 victim surcharge.