TERRIFIED residents of a Newport estate feared for their children's safety as a brawl erupted, a court heard.

One man suffered serious slash wounds to his stomach, another had a broken collarbone and head injuries after violence flared, Cardiff crown court was told.

Yesterday Robert Dolling, aged 53, of Nidd Close, Bettws, was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment after the court heard he had shouted threats while holding a knife.

Andrew Stone, aged 18, of Ogmore Crescent, Bettws, admitted causing Dolling actual bodily harm and was jailed for 12 months. It will run concurrently with an 18- month sentence he is presently serving.

A third defendant, Carl Ball, aged 39, of Chelmer Close, Bettws, was made subject to a community rehabilitation order for two years. A 17-year-old youth was sentenced to a community punishment order of 120 hours.

Dolling, Ball and the teenager, who cannot be identified, all admitted a charge of affray. Judge Roderick Denyer said Dolling had already served six months in custody, so would therefore be released immediately.

Prosecutor Ieuan Rees said on January 29 Dolling started what turned out to be a serious outbreak of violence.

He was drunk and carrying a knife and was threatening children. "Residents took great offence, especially those who feared their children would be injured, and some intervened," he said.

Ball's wife told Dolling to put down the knife, and he grabbed her by the throat and threatened her.

When Ball went to help he slashed him across the abdomen. Shortly after, said Mr Rees, others carried out "a vigilante-style attack" on Dolling, who suffered a broken left collarbone. Mr Rees said Dolling had started the incident - he was heard shouting: "I'm going to kill you," but others there took their revenge. The judge told the 17-year-old there were good references on his behalf and added that Ball was making progress with his life.