A MAN who smashed a bottle over his neighbour's head during a heated argument in the street has been spared jail.

Paul Griffiths, of Cefndre in Wrexham, appeared for sentence at Mold Crown Court on Thursday.

The 46-year-old had previously been convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Nicholas Williams, prosecuting, told the court that the victim in the case was Craig Penlington, who also lived on the Cefndre estate.

On March 18 last year, he was walking past the defendant's address to get to his own property, when he spotted Griffiths walking towards him.

The defendant, who was carrying a bag with alcohol in it, "snarled" at him as he approached.

Mr Williams said the men had been neighbours for some five years, and Mr Penlington began to have issues with the defendant in 2022 after putting some extra rubbish in his bin.

Following a brief verbal altercation, Mr Penlington made to walk away - but Griffiths struck him to the back of the head with a bottle.

They grappled, and the victim went to leave again.

But Griffiths struck him to the head a second time, smashing the bottle and causing a cut.

Mr Penlington then punched Griffiths to the face, knocking him out and leaving him lying in the street whilst an ambulance was called by a witness.

When he came around, Griffiths seemingly had no memory of the incident and was taken into hospital overnight.

Mr Williams said the defendant had five convictions for nine previous offences; most of which related to violence.

Among his offences were an incident in which he hit someone over the head with a hammer, a threat to petrol-bomb a house and a previous assault against a neighbour.

Duncan Bould, defending, said: "The first thing to say is that Mr Griffiths is well aware of the seriousness of this offence.

"There's no question, this was a disgraceful incident.

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"As many of us who frequent these courts know, people die in these kinds of circumstances; one punch which renders someone unconscious can have that effect.

"But he (Griffiths) is responsible for these circumstances.

"He does have a poor record, but in the last 16-plus years, he seems to have made a successful effort to change what appeared to be a pattern of behaviour in his younger years.

"He's someone who seeks to educate and better himself."

Mr Bould said despite the victim and defendant still living "cheek by jowl" in the same properties, there had been no repeat or further unpleasantness between them since.

Judge Niclas Parry imposed a custodial sentence of 12 months - but opted to suspend it for 18 months.

The defendant must undertake 25 days of rehabilitation activity and pay £1,000 compensation to Mr Penlington, as well as a £187 victim surcharge.