A man who put is mobile phone in a sock to use it as a weapon has been jailed.

The attack, which took place in the early hours of Saturday, 4 July, resulted in the victim requiring emergency surgery for a skull fracture.

Ciaran McConnell, of Flat above Mariner, South John Street, appeared before Swansea Crown Court after pleaded guilty to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, where the 37-year-old was jailed for 15 months.

The court heard how McConnell had been playing pool with a friend when two other men placed a pound coin on the table to reserve it for the next game.

The coin was removed which led to an argument and scuffle before the two sets of men parted ways.

Later on, the two groups were outside the sports bar on Margaret Street leading to Uplands Square and an argument broke out again.

McConnell placed his mobile phone in a sock and swung at the victim, connecting with his head.

The groups were then separated but the 20-year-old victim suffered a fractured skull and had to have emergency surgery at University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff as a result of the assault.

Sentencing McConnell to 15 months in prison, judge Paul Thomas KC said: “Although I accept you didn't start violence and that the victim was far from blameless during this incident, you were as bad as each other.

“You escalated the violence by improvising the weapon, and the blow you struck him with was a brutal one.

“The impact was substantial and significant. It caused a seizure and a depressed fracture of the skull, with bones of his skull touching the brain tissue, and he had to undergo an emergency operation.”

McConnell was sentenced to 15 months in prison.