A MAN had to have an operation on his skull after he was assaulted by a man who believed he attacked a 15-year-old girl, a court heard.

Dylan Powell, 26, of Lime Crescent, Newport, was given a suspended prison sentence at Cardiff Crown Court after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm on Ryan Hiscox.

He had pleaded guilty on the day his trial was due to start on December 7 last year.

The court heard that the day before the incident took place on June 27 2009 Mr Hiscox had assaulted another male, described in court as a boy.

The boy’s 15-year-old girlfriend said to become involved in the incident, and the court was told that Mr Hiscox had described “shrugging” her off.

The next day Powell went to Mr Hiscox’s house, believing that he had assaulted her.

Powell attacked Mr Hiscox, knocking him to the ground and rendering him unconscious.

Prosecutor Suzanne Thomas said a scan at hospital confirmed that Mr Hiscox suffered a fracture to the right side of the skull.

The victim underwent an operation at the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, and has since made a full recovery.

In mitigation for the defendant, barrister Richard Ace said Powell had built up an enviable work record, and cares for two elderly grandparents.

But Judge William Gaskell said that Powell had denied the assault after he was arrested and at one point had sought for his partner to give false alibi evidence at trial.

However he added: “I am taking a chance with you as I’m trying to preserve your employment so you can look your own child and the children for which you have accepted responsibility.”

He sentenced him to 12 months in prison suspended for two years, with a requirement to carry out 250 hours unpaid work.