A MAN has been jailed after a court heard how he used a baseball bat to break the elbow of one man and struck another on the forehead during a late night incident.

Andrew James Smith, who had come under attack himself and who had been injured, admitted wounding, assault and possessing the bat as an offensive weapon.

Smith, 29, of Gwalia Terrace, Ruabon, claimed he had come under attack when others 'laid into him'.

But he then went home, got a baseball bat, and swung it in the street, injuring two people, Mold Crown Court was told.

Smith admitted wounding Carl Williams - who had not been involved in any earlier disturbance - and assaulting David Mazzarella.

The Judge, Miss Recorder Catherine O'Leary, jailed Smith for 15 months and said the aggravating feature of the case was that he had used a weapon in a public place.

'I accept all that is said on your behalf about the history of what occurred that night,' she said.

'But you armed yourself with a weapon and caused serious injuries that night,' she said.

It was appreciated a custodial sentence would have a substantial impact upon him, he would lose his employment and it would have an effect on those closest to him, who were, of course, innocent.

The court was told how the complainants and friends had visited various public houses in Ruabon on the night of Friday, March 19, ended up in the Bridge End, and conceded that by the end of the evening that they were drunk.

There was an exchange which ended with him grabbing Mazzarella.

The animosity continued when they left the public house shortly after midnight.

It was alleged that Smith had emptied the contents of a glass, giving the impression he intended to use it as a weapon, although that was denied by the defendant.

He was restrained and told to calm down but later he was involved in a scuffle with Mr Mazzarella.

Smith disappeared, returned with a baseball bat and he swung it, striking one man on the arm, fracturing his elbow, and hitting another man on the fore-head.

Andrew Jebb, defending, said it was clear his client had been subjected to violence that night and he had injuries which had been seen by the police and hospital staff.

It was his case he had come under attack and had then got the bat, which he swung around his head.

He had a partner and a child, was at a low risk of re-offending, and he suggested a community penalty.