An Ebbw Vale man was jailed after a court heard he pointed an air pistol at a man who had earlier been “taunting and abusing” him.

Michael Watkins, 48, of Bethcar Street, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison at Newport crown court after pleading guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to cause violence.

John Warren, prosecuting, told the court on August 27 Carl Collier arrived at his home on The Walk, out of breath and complaining he had been chased by Watkins with whom he had a history of conflict.

The court heard Watkins, who had been drinking heavily, then went to the house with an air pistol and when Mr Collier opened the door, stood on the doorstep and pointed the weapon at both him and his mother.

Mr Warren told the court Mrs Collier slammed the door shut and phoned the police, while Watkins was shouting and kicking the door outside.

Watkins was arrested later that evening at his home and the court heard a number of other weapons were retrieved from his flat, including two axes and a large saw.

The court heard the air pistol was not loaded and Watkins had not had any gun pellets in his possession at the time of the incident.

In Watkins defence, the court was told he had been "the victim of taunting and abuse for several months" by Mr Collier.

Sentencing him, Judge Roderick Denyer said: “It was an air pistol, it was in a public place and you did menace at least one if not two people.”