A violent Milford Haven man will miss the birth of his child after being jailed for 12 months.

Paul Rogers, aged 26, broke his victim’s elbow so badly he may never fully recover and has been forced to give up the career he was pursuing.

Rogers, of Prioryville, admitted assaulting Adrian Lee Davies causing grievous bodily harm.

Kevin Jones, prosecuting, told Swansea crown court how on April 25 last year Mr Davies had been walking towards the home of a friend, Julie Griffiths, in John Lewis Street, Hakin, when Rogers spotted him.

Mr Jones said there had been animosity between the men because Miss Griffiths had once ejected Rogers from a flat.

Rogers swore at him and then “started laying into him.”

Mr Davies was knocked to the floor and repeatedly punched, breaking his left elbow.

Mr Jones said the joint had been smashed “into little pieces” and an operation to knit them back together had not been entirely successful.

As a result Mr Davies had still not regained full movement of the joint and had had to give up a welding course and his ambition to work in the industry.

The court heard that Rogers had 35 previous convictions, many of them for violence.

His barrister, Carina Hughes, said he had battled alcoholism but the knowledge that his partner would give birth in the spring had motivated him to change.

Judge Chris Vosper said he noted that at first Rogers had tried to blame Mr Davies for the violence.

And he could not ignore his long record for violence.

Judge Vosper said he was sorry that Rogers would miss the birth of his son but only a sentence of immediate custody could be passed.