A VALLEYS man involved in an attack that left the victim with a fractured jaw was told by a judge he avoided prison “by the skin of his teeth”.

Judge Stephen Hopkins told Christopher Wyatt he was “lucky” to avoid a jail term when he appeared at Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, owing to his previous good character.

Wyatt, 26, of Arael View, Abertillery, and Todd Bradley, 21, of George Daggar Drive, Abertillery, were jointly charged with grievous bodily harm on Mark Perkins.

The pair pleaded guilty on day two of their trial, when their pleas were accepted.

Prosecutor Roger Griffiths told the court that on May 26 last year Mr Perkins was at home in Blaina, when just after midnight, four men walked in.

Mr Perkins recognised Wyatt, and they got into an argument about the victim going out with Wyatt’s sister.

Mr Griffiths said Mr Perkins ran outside, where he was struck by Wyatt, fell to the ground and was “repeatedly stamped on”.

The attack left Mr Perkins with cuts and bruises to the face and a fractured jaw.

The court heard Bradley committed the offence on bail, and is now serving three and a half years for attacking two building workers, leaving them with serious facial injuries.

Jeff Jones, representing Bradley, said his client may be capable of rehabilitating himself once released.

Marion Bennett, for Wyatt, who has four young children, said this offence was “genuinely out of character” for him and he had expressed remorse in a letter of apology for the offence, submitted to the court.

Passing sentence, Judge Hopkins said the offence “literally sails past” the custody threshold.

But taking in his previous good character, Wyatt was given a 12- month sentence, suspended for two years, will have to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £600 towards prosecution costs.

Bradley was given an eightmonth sentence to be served consecutively to his current one.