A FISHERMAN who was scarred for life by a 13-year-old in a vicious attack with a tree branch says the teenager should be locked up.

The Cwmbran youth, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to unlawful wounding after the attack on August 29 last year.

But he was convicted of the offence after the panel at Cwmbran youth court decided they believed victim Roy Harper's version of events.

Father-of-one Mr Harper, who needed 35 stitches and permanent nerve damage to his face, said after the trial: "Justice has been done.

"I want him to be locked up now and I want him to find it really hard. I hope that'll teach him a lesson."

Community safety officer PC Darrell Dewar said: "We were most concerned that this was an unnecessary and unprovoked attack on an innocent member of the public and we are glad the person responsible has been brought to justice and convicted."

The court heard that duct fitter Mr Harper, 31, of Clark Avenue, Pontnewydd, set off from his home at 9.30pm to go fishing on the Monmouthshire and Becon canal.

He was setting up his equipment on a bench near Five Locks when he saw a group of around 15 youths approaching him along the towpath. Mr Harper told the court: "One of the boys turned round and said, 'I'm going to push you in,' and I jokingly said, 'Try it', and he came back with verbal abuse.

"He said, 'I'm going to do you', and I thought I'm not having this off a young boy. I started walking toward him and he ran. I kept walking forward and next thing you know there was a mighty whack on the right side of my face.

"I was wearing glasses and they smashed in two. I tried to look up and saw a silhouette of a boy holding some sort of stick or metal bar and he was saying, 'Do you want more?'

"I received a three-inch cut across my face that needed 35 stitches, severe nerve damage so my face will be numb for the rest of my life, and I can't close my eye properly."

Robert Wade, defending the boy, argued that he had been acting in defence of his friend because he thought Mr Harper was going to attack him.

But Derek McKie, who chaired the panel of magistrates, told the youth: "The court finds the evidence given by Mr Harper was credible, consistent and utterly believable. We do not believe the force used by you was reasonable and we find you guilty of this offence."

The court heard that the boy has previous convictions for theft and burglary. He will be sentenced on January 29 following completion of a pre-sentence report.