A PUB landlord suffered three fractures and lost two teeth when he was knocked out by a man during a night out, Cardiff crown court heard.

His attacker, 25-year-old steelworks labourer Andrew Foster, was ordered to pay him 2,500 compensation and was banned from going in any pub in Newport for two years.

Foster of Hawthorn Avenue, Somerton, Newport pleaded guilty to inflicting gross bodily harm on 54-year-old Paul Smith. He was also ordered to be subject to a community rehabilitation order for two years and bound over in the sum of 1,000 to be of good behaviour for a year.

Judge Jonathan Durrum Hall said it was the largest compensation order he had made.

He told Foster he could have had no complaints if he jailed him for 15 months.

"There as a degree of confusion as to who was responsible for causing the trouble and whether there was a confrontation which made Foster misjudge the situation," he said.

Prosecutor Laurence Jones said that on February 7 Mr Smith, landlord of the Ivy Bush Pub, Clarence Place, Newport and his wife, the licencee of the Cross Hands Pub, Chepstow Road, Newport had a night off together in Mrs Smith's pub.

There was an argument involving a customer and the defendant decided to involve himself.

At one stage Mrs Smith stood between Foster and a friend of hers with whom he was arguing. At that point Mr Smith tried to protect his wife and was punched to the floor by Foster.

When Mr Smith was on all fours Foster delivered a second punch, knocking him out.

He was taken to the Royal Gwent and treated to a broken cheekbone, broken jaw and a broken nose.

He also lost two teeth and has since suffered great distress with long-term physiological consequences.

When arrested, said Mr Jones, Foster claimed Mr Smith was the aggressor.

Foster was said to have convictions for causing actual bodily harm, assault, and public order offences.

His counsel, David Webster said he had suffered depression.

There was no premeditation or intention to cause serious injury.