A NEWPORT man, described as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character is beginning seven years behind bars today for attacking two people, hitting one with a pickaxe handle before driving his car into him.

David Gibbons, 28, of Beech Grove, was sentenced yesterday for setting upon Vincent Lavender in Maesglas Avenue and on ex-partner Cathy Yendle in Maesglas Crescent.

Gibbons carried out the first attack on February 14 last year after Mr Lavender had been told by his stepdaughter Kelly Davies that Gibbons had vandalised her car and driven towards her at high speed earlier on that day.

Ms Davies, who managed to move out of the way of the car, knew Gibbons from school.

Mr Lavender saw the same car Ms Davies described outside Gibbons’ home and was driving home but stopped on Maesglas Avenue after noticing Gibbons was following him.

Gibbons got out of his car, armed with a pickaxe handle, and hit Mr Lavender three or four times.

While the two were fighting on the floor, Mr Lavender was hit again with the pickaxe handle and kicked in the head twice.

Gibbons returned to his car and drove towards Mr Lavender, forcing him onto the bonnet before he rolled off on to the road.

He suffered a broken nose and a deep cut to his left cheek which went through into his mouth and needed 18 stitches.

Recorder Charles Fox sentenced Gibbons to six years imprisonment for this attack with a two-year extension period after a jury found him guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, dangerous driving, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to resist or prevent lawful apprehension and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Gibbons was sentenced to an additional year’s imprisonment after pleading guilty to dangerous driving following the second incident on October 17 last year in which he attempted to drive his car into Ms Yendle.

Prosecutor Suzanne Thomas said Gibbons went to his ex-partner's house and shouted at her before smashing her car window and reversing his car towards her. He also admitted criminal damage but no additional penalty was given for this.

Defending, Harry Baker described the case as "a worrying picture" but said that Gibbons had not been specifically aiming at Ms Yendle and he still denied the attack on Mr Lavender.

Sentencing, Recorder Fox described Gibbons as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character and said the incident involving Mr Lavender was "an extremely cowardly act".

He said: "You could have killed him if he had gone through your windscreen."

Gibbons was banned from driving for five years and ordered to take an extended driving test following his disqualification.