A former soldier was this morning handed a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years after having pleaded guilty to wounding a man with a heavy duty bike chain.

Alexander Trinidad had been charged with one count of wounding with intent and one count of possession of an offensive weapon after attacking a man who was involved in a noisy argument outside his home in Scud Hill in September last year.

Trinidad’s lawyer, Suresh Mahtani, argued in mitigation that his client had no previous relevant convictions and had entered an early guilty plea. He stressed that it was an isolated incident caused by a momentary – and much regretted – loss of temper.

Puisne Judge Barrington Black said that although noisy neighbours can be annoying, the defendant’s decision to take matters into his own hands amounted to a “grave mistake.” He also ordered Trinidad to pay the victim £500 in compensation. Carl Ramagge appeared for the Crown.