A NEWPORT teenager was locked up for 18 months yesterday for smashing a broken pint glass into the head of his girlfriend's father.

Thomas William Casey, 19, of Park Crescent, used the damaged glass to injure Christopher Iles following a domestic incident on July 25 last year, Newport crown court was told.

The assault was sparked when Casey refused to accept his girlfriend Natalie Iles would not go to London with him.

Recorder Nigel Thomas told Casey: "Your behaviour was completely unacceptable.

"The injuries were moderate compared to other crown court cases heard here but, nevertheless, this is a case which can only be answered by a custodial sentence."

Recorder Mr Thomas said the incident happened at the home of Mr Iles on Gaer Park, Newport, after the victim had asked Casey to leave.

He said a fight broke out and that the "broken glass was used to smash into the head of Mr Iles."

Casey was convicted at an earlier trial of unlawfully wounding Mr Iles.

He was acquitted of a more serious charge of wounding with intent. Casey was also found not guilty of assaulting Natalie Iles.

Recorder Thomas sentenced Casey to 18 months in a young offenders institution.

Mary Parry-Evans, prosecuting, said Casey had two previous cautions against him but no convictions.

Hilary Roberts, defending, said Casey maintained he was acting in self defence but accepted that he may have gone too far.

Mr Roberts said: "He is someone who has not shown violent tendencies to his family and this was completely out of character."

He said a custodial sentence would devastate his client who had emotional difficulties, a history of depression, and had previously attempted to commit suicide.

Mr Roberts said Casey was no longer romantically involved with Natalie Iles.

He said much of the prosecution evidence in the trial was conflicting and that his client maintained he was not the one to break the glass that was used in the attack.