A MAN who bit a stranger's nose and wielded a screwdriver during a fight was sentenced to three years in prison.

Ryan Meek, aged 23, of Neuadd Street, Abertillery, was sentenced at Newport crown court.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to charges of bail absconding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, causing grievous bodily harm and criminal damage after two different incidents.

The first took place in The Arena nightclub, Abertillery, on November 12, 2004, when he bit a man he had never met on the nose.

The court heard Meek became jealous of Kevin Hall, who he felt was acting inappropriately with his girlfriend while in the club. Mr Hall was on a night out with friends when Meek approached him. Judge David Morris said: "There was no excuse for what you did and it was a nasty injury."

In the second incident, Meek admitted using a screwdriver during a fight with Gethin Hancock after a confrontation in Neuadd Street, Abertillery, on August 21, 2005.

Meek, who was travelling in a car with another man, gestured to Mr Hancock's car to stop.

Both Meek and Mr Hancock then got out and began arguing before a fight ensued, during which Hancock was stabbed by Meek in the cheek.

Meek also admitted assaulting Marc Powell, who was in the same car as Mr Hancock, and smashing the window of his car.

A police hunt was launched for Meek after he went on the run. Sentencing, Judge Morris said: "In both these incidents you were guilty of violent offences and you have previous convictions of like offences. It is inevitable I assess you as posing a risk to the public."

He only delivered one sentence - for Meek's most recent offence in August 2005 - but explained all the charges were taken into consideration.

Meek was sentenced to five years for the actual bodily harm, with a custodial term of three years and an extended licence for two years.