PEOPLE fled in terror as a drunken Gwent teenager - in breach of his Anti-Social Behaviour Order - swung a working disc cutter over his head, a court heard.

Newport crown court was told yesterday how one woman took off her shoes in order to run away faster as Adam David Banfield, 19, from Pontypool, brandished the cutter in Abersychan's Swan Square.

Disc cutters are powerful machines often used by stonemasons to cut material.

Banfield, of Newman Road, Trevethin, appeared for sentence after pleading guilty to affray, possessing an offensive weapon, and being in breach of his ASBO in the early hours of October 10.

Prosecutor Jonathan Austin said witnesses saw Banfield, "shouting and screaming" and "swinging the cutter over his head."

He said people confessed to being "terrified" at the sight of Banfield, "staggering" down the street after he started up the machine.

Banfield was put on a two-year ASBO in June 2004 by magistrates in Abergavenny after they found he had committed four anti-social acts.

In December 2003, Banfield assaulted David Britten a volunteer staff member at Pontnewynydd Methodist Church's Youth Caf.

On February 6, 2004, he caused nuisance and distress to another volunteer, Anna Britten, at the caf and damaged property.

On the same day he threatened the licensee of the Hog & Hosper pub after being refused entry because he was subjected to a Pub Watch ban.

He then later violently resisted arrest and assaulted and threatened a police officer.

Matthew Roberts, mitigating for Banfield, said there was "no specific threat towards any individual" on the night of the incident with the cutter.

He said Banfield had voluntarily admitted while on remand at a young offenders' institute that he had a drink problem.

Recorder J Philpotts told Banfield: "You have been a thorough nuisance and worse in the last year or two."

But he told him that because Banfield had decided to change his lifestyle and had already served the equivalent of six-months in custody, he was imposing a two-year community rehabilitation order.

The judge advised Banfield to, "stay off the cider".