TWO brothers attacked a man playing pool in a pub, knocked him unconscious and kicked him "like a football," a court heard.

Martin Shackson was kicked in the head and had a stool smashed over his head, Cardiff crown court was told.

Gareth Pilcher, 23, of Lilleshall Street, Newport, was jailed for two years and his brother Jamie Pilcher, 20, of the same address, was sent to a young offender institution for three years.

Jamie Pilcher admitted wounding with intent and his brother admitted a charge of wounding.

They were told by Judge Roderick Denyer: "You both have bad records for violence. I bear in mind the background. This is not to be equated to an attack on a completely innocent passer-by." The victim, he said, had a "general reputation for violence."

Prosecutor Liz Pearson, said the incident took place at the Tudor House pub, Llantwit Major, on March 29.

Mr Shackson was playing pool when he felt his shoulder pushed, but remembered nothing more until someone attended to his injuries, she said. Witnesses recalled Gareth Pilcher "throwing uppercuts," without provocation, the prosecutor said, adding that Jamie Pilcher kicked Shackson as hard as he could "like a football" and brought a stool down on his head, causing the stool to shatter.

Mr Shackson was taken to hospital where wounds to his head and neck were stitched. He lost a great deal of blood, said Miss Pearson.

When arrested and interviewed, Jamie Pilcher said he was at home in Newport and would give no further details. Gareth Pilcher said: "No comment" to every question, the court was told.

Anthony Vines, for Jamie Pilcher, said Mr Shackson was a convicted drugs dealer and had been violent.

His client, he said, had been attacked by him in the week before and struck unconscious. In the pub, he said, his client had over reacted.

Alex Greenwood, for the other defendant, said: "The victim is a man feared throughout Llantwit Major, renowned for his aggression and his involvement in drugs."

The incident, he said, was not pre-planned and it was unfortunate that the three men found themselves in the same pub. The role of Gareth Pilcher was the less serious one, he added.